Hi
For Server hangs; we need to explore a little bit more:
- at the point of hang is the keyboard responsive(can we flip the number
lock)?
- can you ping the server or access shares?
- do the hangs occur during/around a specific time of the day?
- antivirus or backup applications you use; is the hang clashing with some
scheduled event?
- in the processes list do we have any instances of ctfmon.exe?
You wont be able to pick something off the event log just like that; you
need to explore for event id 2019's or 2020's indicating a memory leak,
3034's for MRXSMB errors, 10000 series for DCOM errors, so on so forth.
I would disagree with Vera in calling a server underdimensioned till the
point a user starts feeling the lag in the session. Also would advice
against the hotfixes till the point we know the real problem because hotfixes
are not generic they are made to address very specific problems though there
is nothing wrong in getting the latest and greatest files.
As indicated by Vera Perfmon would be a nice place to start; but i would
stress on Remote Perfmon as the box would feel undue stress because perfmon
itself might act as a burden. ;)
The following article would certainly make a good read:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/2000/professional/reskit/en-us/part6/proch27.mspx
The counters we might be interested are:
- Process
- Processor
- Memory
- Network interface
- Object
- Thread
- Disk
Make sure we make it all instances because once we have identified the
performance object where the spike is occurring; we need to go under the
object and identify the actual process.
For kernel mode leaks we might need tools like poolmon and if nothing works
out we might need to go to the extent of a complete memory dump. At this
point you might have to engage Microsoft PSS.
In addition to all this I would certainly recommend driver updates as they
are the most common culprits for memory leaks and this includes filter
drivers for your antivirus and backup applications.
If you are a consultant then Microsoft Product Support reporting tool would
come handy for data gathering:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=46&p=13&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=cebf3c7c-7ca5-408f-88b7-f9c79b7306c0&genscs=&u=http%3a%2f%2fdownload.microsoft.com%2fdownload%2fb%2fb%2f1%2fbb139fcb-4aac-4fe5-a579-30b0bd915706%2fMPSRPT_SETUPPerf.EXE
What does the above tool do?
- http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818742
Hope this helps. I dont get to frequest this place too often but feel free
to contact me at ***@gmail.com