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Q257925: Cluster Server Does Not Detect Network Problems in Windows NT

Article: Q257925
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0; winnt:1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbhw kbnetwork kbHardware
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Cluster Server in Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, does not detect
network problems. Disconnecting the network cable from the active node does not
cause an IP address or group to failover. Also, simulated network adapter
failures may not cause an IP address to stop working, or cause Cluster Server to
declare that an adapter is down.

CAUSE
=====

The Cluster service verifies that the IP address is online by checking the
network stack to make sure that it is functioning. A network problem does not
invalidate the IP addresses that are registered on that adapter. This causes the
IP address to stay online even though the route is down.

This functionality is included in Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server.

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design for Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition.

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

For additional information about related topics, click the article numbers below
to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q242600 Network Failure Detection and Recovery in a Server Cluster

  Q254101 Network Adapter Teaming and Server Clustering

  Q239924 How to Disable Media Sense for TCP/IP in Windows 2000

  Q254651 Cluster Network Role Changes Automatically

  Q176320 Impact of Network Adapter Failure in a Cluster

Additional query words: MSCS

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbhw kbnetwork kbHardware 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search
Version           : :4.0; winnt:1.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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