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NSPI query for address book information is slow and high CPU usage on domain controllers in a Windows Server 2008 R2 domain


View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:
  • Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) stores many objects for the address book and for the global address lists in a Windows Server 2008 R2 domain.
  • Users in the domain query address book information by using the Name Service Provider Interface (NSPI) API functions.
In this scenario, the query operation takes a long time to complete, or the operation fails because of a time-out error. Additionally, the CPU usage for the Lsass.exe process increases to a high level on domain controllers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2. Therefore, these domain controllers stop responding for a while.

Note This issue may occur in a large scale deployment of Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (HMC).

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Cause

This issue occurs because the NSPI library sorts address book information on domain controllers when an NSPI API function requests address book information.

When there are many address book objects in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), the domain controller takes a long time to sort the query results. Therefore, the query response for the client is slow, and the CPU usage for the Lsass.exe process spikes on domain controllers.

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Resolution

This hotfix package introduces NSPI caching. To enable this feature, install the hotfix package, and then create a registry item that is mentioned in the "Registry” section.

After you enable NSPI caching, the server caches the results when a client requests address book information by NSPI.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows Server 2008 R2. Additionally, you must have Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) installed.

Registry information

To enable NSPI caching, you can create the following registry entry manually:
Location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters

Name: Cache NSPI Hierarchy Sort

Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 1

Or, you can run the following script to add the registry item by using the Reg.exe utility:
REG ADD "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters" /v "Cache NSPI Hierarchy Sort" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

If you already have Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2012 installed, you only need to set the registry entry. The cache is enabled dynamically, there is no need to restart the Directory Service or the Server.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The global version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.
Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes
Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.
  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.
    VersionProductSR_LevelService branch
    6.1.760
    0.20xxx
    Windows Server 2008 R2RTMLDR
    6.1.760
    1.21xxx
    Windows Server 2008 R2SP1LDR
  • GDR service branches contain only those fixes that are widely released to address widespread, very important issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are
    listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Ntdsa.mofNot applicable227,76510-Jun-200920:34Not applicable
Ntdsai.dll6.1.7600.208892,725,88827-Jan-201106:25x64
Ntdsa.mofNot applicable227,76505-Nov-201001:54Not applicable
Ntdsai.dll6.1.7601.216492,725,88826-Jan-201106:45x64

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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More Information

For more information about NSPI, visit the following MSDN website: For more information about a similar issue that occurs in Windows Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
972122 A query takes a long time to complete and increases CPU usage to a high level on the domain controllers that are running Windows Server 2003 when you use NSPI API functions to query address book 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

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
File nameAmd64_67af67746071833ff1db2e05305cb495_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20889_none_749e18da89681e50.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size716
Date (UTC)27-Jan-2011
Time (UTC)14:05
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_90b974f6ee28b689b73386907eedbbd5_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21649_none_58bdcbfec1bcfcd6.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size716
Date (UTC)27-Jan-2011
Time (UTC)14:05
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-d..toryservices-ntdsai_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20889_none_4d48d91eebedc508.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size3,531
Date (UTC)27-Jan-2011
Time (UTC)07:02
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-d..toryservices-ntdsai_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21649_none_4f5a75d4e8f3c130.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size3,531
Date (UTC)26-Jan-2011
Time (UTC)07:20
PlatformNot applicable
File nameUpdate.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size3,741
Date (UTC)27-Jan-2011
Time (UTC)14:05
PlatformNot applicable

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Keywords: kb, kbautohotfix, kbqfe, kbhotfixserver, kbfix, kbexpertiseinter, kbsurveynew

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Article Info
Article ID : 2500682
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 4/18/2011
Exists online : False
Views : 215