Hotfix that is dated October 20, 2003 for Windows Server 2003 servers with multiple CPUs

This article describes the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 features that are fixed in the Windows Server 2003 hotfix package that is dated October 20, 2003.

The following issues are fixed in this hotfix package:

• Optimization of the KiInsertQueueApc function if the current thread is the target.
  Description: This hotfix modifies the KiInsertQeueueApc function so that it does not require the Dispatcher Lock if the deferred procedure call (DPC) runs on the same CPU as the thread that an asynchronous procedure call (APC) is inserted into.
• Numa mask truncation (Kernel32.dll).
  Description: Without this hotfix, the top 32 bits of the 64-bit non-uniform memory access (NUMA) KAFFINITY mask that is returned to user applications are truncated to 0.
  
  Note The "top 32 bits" refers to bits 32 through 63.
• Allocation of large pages with coloring support.
  Description: Without this hotfix, application node affinity is not considered for memory allocations.
  
  Note Application node affinity is also known as page coloring.
• WIN64 HalpDefaultInterruptAffinity truncation.
  Description: Without this hotfix, the top 32 bits of the default HAL 64-bit NUMA KAFFINITY mask are truncated to 0. This action causes Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) functionalities that use this parameter to ignore processors that are numbered higher than 31.

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 this specific problem. 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.
The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

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

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: