Knowledge Base

Limit SSL message size to 16 KB for Netscape

Article ID: 187856

Article Last Modified on 3/22/2007


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This article was previously published under Q187856
We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

SYMPTOMS

When you try to make a secure connection to ASP files that are over 32 kilobytes (KB) by using Netscape, the following error message occurs:
An I/O Error occurred during security authorization. Please try connection again.

CAUSE

The SSL limit, as defined in the SSL specifications, is a maximum of 16 KB of data in one block.

The problem occurs when the computer that is running Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 (IIS) sends the Netscape client more than 16 KB at one time (in one block of data).

Microsoft Internet Explorer accepts up to a 32 KB block of data at one time.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to obtain the latest Windows NT 4.0 service pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

Additional query words: Secure Sockets Layer https web page

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbbug kbfix KB187856