Knowledge Base

Allocation of Print Server Threads May Cause Delays

Article ID: 180954

Article Last Modified on 7/16/2004

Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Service Pack 4
Microsoft SNA Server 4.0
Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Service Pack 2
Microsoft SNA Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q180954

SYMPTOMS

The Host Print service's method of allocating threads may result in poor printing performance if a network printer is extremely busy or becomes unavailable for some reason.

CAUSE

The Host Print service currently allocates one thread for every 32 print sessions. In this case, if one printer is slow to respond or is unavailable, the other print sessions running on the same thread may experience performance degradation.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SNA Server Versions 3.0, 3.0 SP1, 3.0 SP2, and 4.0.

This problem was corrected in the latest SNA Server versions 3.0 and 4.0 U.S. Service Packs. For information on obtaining these Service Packs, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

With the fix applied, thread allocation is changed to allow for Print Server to run 1 thread per session for up to 32 sessions. The next 32 sessions will be run at 2 sessions per thread increasing up to 32 sessions per thread. By running fewer sessions per thread, potential delays will be minimized.

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbprint KB180954