Q296692: Troubleshooting TCP Ports in SYN_RECEIVED State for Long Periods

Article: Q296692
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetworkkbfaq
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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SUMMARY
=======

If you are using Winsock TCP ports, you may experience performance problems,
such as programs that stop responding (hang). You may also notice that some TCP
ports stay in the SYN_RECEIVED state for long periods of time. This article
describes how to proceed if you experience these problems.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If you suspect that the behaviors that you are encountering are caused by
network problems, type the following command at a command prompt to view
connections that are in the SYN_RECEIVED state:

  "netstat -n -p tcp" (without the quotation marks)

Output that is similar to the following text appears after you run this command:

  TCP 159.173.161.130:3600 159.173.150.227:1041 SYN_RECEIVED
  TCP 159.173.161.130:3600 159.173.162.59:1040 SYN_RECEIVED
  TCP 159.173.161.130:3600 159.173.162.60:1035 SYN_RECEIVED
  TCP 159.173.161.130:3600 159.173.162.74:1039 SYN_RECEIVED
  TCP 159.173.161.130:3600 159.173.162.96:1042 SYN_RECEIVED

If you run the netstat command one hour later, the TCP ports are still in the
SYN_RECEIVED state, which can occur if the registry keys that control the
functionality of the TCP/IP protocol are in a non-functioning state. To resolve
this problem, set the following registry keys back to their default values:

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters

  Value Name: TcpMaxDataRetransmissions
  Data Type: REG_DWORD - Number
  Valid Range: 0 - 0xFFFFFFFF
  Default: 5

  Value Name: InitialRtt
  Data Type: REG_DWORD
  Valid Range: 0-65535 (decimal)
  Default: 0xBB8 (3000 decimal)

If you find the SynAttackProtect key, and your computer is not under a SYN
attack, delete this key. For additional information about how to know whether
your system is under a TCP SYN attack, click the article number below to view
the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q142641 Internet Server Unavailable Because of Malicious SYN Attacks

In addition, verify that your network is operating properly without losing a
large number of frames. To do this, create a network trace. An indication of
packet loss is a high number of TCP retransmission frames. Many advanced network
sniffer tools, such as Microsoft Network Monitor 2.0, are able to locate TCP
retransmissions.


REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q170359 How to Modify the TCP/IP Maximum Retransmission Timeout

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbnetwork kbfaq
Component         : TCP/IPServices
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : :4.0
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbhowto
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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