Notice: This website is an unofficial Microsoft Knowledge Base (hereinafter KB) archive and is intended to provide a reliable access to deleted content from Microsoft KB. All KB articles are owned by Microsoft Corporation. Read full disclaimer for more details.

Socket communication using the loopback address will intermittently encounter a five second delay


View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

On a multi-processor computer that is running on a Windows version listed in the Applies To section, recv() sometimes waits five seconds using the loopback address (127.0.0.1).

Scenario:
Repeated large transfer data more than 64KB to 1MB.
Using Loopback address (127.0.0.1).
Multi-processor computer.

↑ Back to the top


Cause

The 5 second delay is due to the firing of the SWS(Silly Window Syndrome) avoidance timer. The SWS timer is scheduled to send the remaining data which is less than 1 MSS (Maximum Segment Size, 1460 bytes) and the receiver is supposed to send an ACK advertising the increased receive window and indicating that the remaining data bytes can be sent.
However, if the receiver sends an ACK when it can be ready for sufficient buffer within 5 seconds, the SWS timer cannot recover the 5 seconds delay status due to a race condition.

Note: For more information on SWS, please refer to Internet RFC 813 and RFC 1122. For more information on MSS, please refer to Internet RFC 879.

↑ Back to the top


Resolution

Workaround

There is no perfect workaround, but you can reduce the rate of incidence.
- Ready for sufficient receive buffer.
- Reduce transfer data size.

↑ Back to the top


Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.

↑ Back to the top


Keywords: KB2020447

↑ Back to the top

Article Info
Article ID : 2020447
Revision : 1
Created on : 3/5/2010
Published on : 3/5/2010
Exists online : False
Views : 380