Number of connections to shared resource

8 Sep 2006 2:53 PM

tkosel

I have searched all the current posts and some are close but don't quite tell
me what I want, so here goes.

I have a Peer to Peer network. I have one XP-Pro machine for which I have
shared the C: drive to all, granting the Maximum number of connections. (I
will refere to this as the host.)

I have 6 XP-Pro machines accessing this "host", each with a different
windows networking login name. I have 2 Win2K-Pro machines also accessing
this "Host" each with a different windows networking login name. By my
count, if my understanding is correct, I should not run up agains the Maximum
number of connections contstraint. (I count 9 connections as the "host" uses
one right?)

The users each access different things on the "host". Some have a drive
mapped to a couple of shared applications. Some have a drive mapped to a
folder containing shared documents. One of the XP-Pro machines periodically
get a message to the just of "You are unable to access P:\shared on \\Server
as there are too many users". (Not exact.)

If I click OK, then go shut down one of the other clients, it can get right
to it. What am I running up against here?

8 Sep 2006 3:00 PM

Malke

tkosel wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

> I have searched all the current posts and some are close but don't
> quite tell me what I want, so here goes.
>
> I have a Peer to Peer network. I have one XP-Pro machine for which I
> have shared the C: drive to all, granting the Maximum number of
> connections. (I will refere to this as the host.)
>
> I have 6 XP-Pro machines accessing this "host", each with a different
> windows networking login name. I have 2 Win2K-Pro machines also
> accessing
> this "Host" each with a different windows networking login name. By
> my count, if my understanding is correct, I should not run up agains
> the Maximum
> number of connections contstraint. (I count 9 connections as the
> "host" uses one right?)
>
> The users each access different things on the "host". Some have a
> drive
> mapped to a couple of shared applications. Some have a drive mapped
> to a
> folder containing shared documents. One of the XP-Pro machines
> periodically get a message to the just of "You are unable to access
> P:\shared on \\Server
> as there are too many users". (Not exact.)
>
> If I click OK, then go shut down one of the other clients, it can get
> right
> to it. What am I running up against here?

Your understanding and count is wrong and you are indeed running into
the inbound concurrent connections limitation. The count is not for
*computers* but for *connections*. Each computer can - and usually does
- make multiple connections to your pseudo-server.

If you are running Windows programs on the pseudo-server, you will need
to upgrade to a server operating system. Small Business Server will be
fine for you. If you are only using the pseudo-server as a file server,
you can install Linux on it.

Malke

--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

8 Sep 2006 3:35 PM

tkosel

Show quote Hide quote

"Malke" wrote:

> tkosel wrote:
>
> > I have searched all the current posts and some are close but don't
> > quite tell me what I want, so here goes.
> >
> > I have a Peer to Peer network. I have one XP-Pro machine for which I
> > have shared the C: drive to all, granting the Maximum number of
> > connections. (I will refere to this as the host.)
> >
> > I have 6 XP-Pro machines accessing this "host", each with a different
> > windows networking login name. I have 2 Win2K-Pro machines also
> > accessing
> > this "Host" each with a different windows networking login name. By
> > my count, if my understanding is correct, I should not run up agains
> > the Maximum
> > number of connections contstraint. (I count 9 connections as the
> > "host" uses one right?)
> >
> > The users each access different things on the "host". Some have a
> > drive
> > mapped to a couple of shared applications. Some have a drive mapped
> > to a
> > folder containing shared documents. One of the XP-Pro machines
> > periodically get a message to the just of "You are unable to access
> > P:\shared on \\Server
> > as there are too many users". (Not exact.)
> >
> > If I click OK, then go shut down one of the other clients, it can get
> > right
> > to it. What am I running up against here?
>
> Your understanding and count is wrong and you are indeed running into
> the inbound concurrent connections limitation. The count is not for
> *computers* but for *connections*. Each computer can - and usually does
> - make multiple connections to your pseudo-server.
>
> If you are running Windows programs on the pseudo-server, you will need
> to upgrade to a server operating system. Small Business Server will be
> fine for you. If you are only using the pseudo-server as a file server,
> you can install Linux on it.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

Thanks, I guess the connections thing has not been properly explained to me.
I was told that each "Computer" used one TCPIP connection to the shared
resource. Nobody ever mentioned "psuedo" connections and it doesn't make
sense to me. Is there a resource that might explain what connections are and
when/how they are established so that I have a proper understanding? Thnaks.

8 Sep 2006 9:15 PM

Richard G. Harper

It's quite simple - there are no "pseudo" connections. Malke's comment is
intended to say "on your make-believe" server - it's not a real server.

So anyway - let's say that PC1 maps a shared drive from the "server".
That's one connection. Then PC1 maps a shared printer from the "server".
That's two connections. Then PC 2 maps two folders from the "server".
That's two more connections, for four total. Then PC2 maps a shared printer
from the "server". Now that's five connections.

You need a "real" server operating system to solve your problem. Or less
PCs trying to connect to your current "server".

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rghar***@gmail.com
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Show quoteHide quote

"tkosel" <tko***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:83EE1886-99C6-46C1-B56D-114109F35894@microsoft.com...

> Thanks, I guess the connections thing has not been properly explained to
> me.
> I was told that each "Computer" used one TCPIP connection to the shared
> resource. Nobody ever mentioned "psuedo" connections and it doesn't make
> sense to me. Is there a resource that might explain what connections are
> and
> when/how they are established so that I have a proper understanding?
> Thnaks.

9 Sep 2006 2:42 AM

Ron Martell

Malke <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>If you are running Windows programs on the pseudo-server, you will need
>to upgrade to a server operating system. Small Business Server will be
>fine for you. If you are only using the pseudo-server as a file server,
>you can install Linux on it.
>

Another option, if the server PC is only sharing files, is to use a
Network Attached Storage device for these files, and there will be no
connection limit.

Maxtor makes integrated units with a single hard drive, and both
D-Link and Linksys have adapters that allow you to connect up to 2 USB
hard drives.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

9 Sep 2006 11:18 AM

Ian

Each client computer briefly makes two connections when it logs-on to a
server (or file-sharing peer) - one anonymous and one under its logon-name.
The anonymous connection should disappear within a few seconds of successful
authentication, but I've seen situations where it doesn't , and this leaves
the computer taking-up two 'slots' instead of one. Exactly why this happens
I'm not sure, but it's fortunately a fairly rare bug.

To settle some controversies, each client takes up a single licence to any
one server, no matter how many shares or printers it connects-to on the same
server.

A single user can only connect to a given server with one set of
credentials, which apply to all shares on the server. The only case where
that is not so is if the client has has 'fast user switching' enabled and
hence multiple local accounts active at the same time.

-------------------------------

An alternative approach to XP network logon - http://mylogon.net