Ref: 13420006
Title: No Timeout for 3+Share
date: 11/07/89

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

3+Share users should always log out properly before powering off their
workstations.  If a workstation is powered off while in the middle of a
transaction with the server, the server may continue to send packets
generated at the SMB (Server Message Block) to the workstation until the
server is rebooted or until the workstation is disconnected from the server
with a 3F UNLINK command.

The problem occurs due to the way SPP (Sequenced Packet Protocol) works.
When a workstation issues a request to read a file, the server replies
to the command.  SPP sends the packet and expects an acknowledgment from the
workstation.  Even if the workstation goes down after the communication has
started, the server will assume that the workstation is still there and will
continue to send packets to that workstation.  It will not time out
unless the workstation is rebooted or unlinked from the server.

On large networks where many workstations have been powered off in the
middle of an operation, results are very noticeable.  The extra packets
load down the network and workstations show symptoms of "network retrying"
or a degradation in speed.

It is acceptable for a user to unlink from all sharenames, rather than log
out.  However, for best results, 3Com recommends that users log out before
powering off their workstations.  This will terminate any sessions that they
have with any server and thus stop any communication between the server and
the workstation.

