KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q118660: RAS: ClientsPerProcess Registry Entry

Article: Q118660
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server version 3.5 have a new registry
entry, ClientsPerProcess, that describes how many NetBIOS names are added to a
Remote Access Service (RAS) server before a new process is spawned.

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

When RAS clients connect to the Windows NT version 3.5 RAS server, the client's
NetBIOS names are added to the server. A RAS client will have a NetBIOS Name for
each local area network (LAN) the gateway is active on (by default, all of
them). The average client will have 6 or more, NetBIOS names. Windows NT Server
version 3.5 supports 255 RAS clients, which translates to 1500 or more, NetBIOS
names. However, NetBIOS only supports 254 names for any given process.

To solve this problem, Windows NT version 3.5 starts a new process for every "x"
NetBIOS clients (x being the value of ClientsPerProcess). Therefore, when the
RAS server service starts, it has one process that will handle x NetBIOS
clients. When the x+1 client calls in, Windows NT starts a new process to handle
the next x clients.

NOTE: This does not apply to IP- or IPX-only clients. The default for this
parameter is 32, which means that a new process starts when the 33rd RAS client
connects. The key is located in the Registry as follows:

  WARNING:
  Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that
  may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot
  guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be
  solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

         \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
                    \CurrentControlSet
                             \Services
                                     \RemoteAccess
                                            \ClientsPerProcess

Additional query words: prodnt
======================================================================
Keywords          : kbnetwork 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT350search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS350search
Version           : 3.5

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.