Windows NT 3.51 TCP/IP System Network Interface Hang

SYMPTOMS

A Windows NT computer running TCP/IP stops responding on the network. No frames are sent from the network interface card (NIC), and incoming frames are not seen. Local (non-network) processing continues to function normally.

NOTE: This problem rarely occurs. It was seen only once on a busy Internet server.

CAUSE

A router on the network responded to the server with an ICMP destination unreachable (fragmentation requested, but with the DF bit set). It included an advisement that the next-hop MTU size was one byte. This is an illegal MTU value.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, install Windows NT 3.51 Service Pack 1.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Windows NT version 3.51. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):