Question

"Insufficient system resources .." Error Causes Network Problems

Asked by: LennyXTi

We have a Peer-to-Peer Network with a total of 8 PCs.  All computers are Dell OptiPlex's (620s or 280s)
and each is configured the same - 1GB Ram, 3GHz Dual Core Intel, and one 80GB Disk.  The exception is
the PC that we choose to act as a File Server (no server OS).  This PC is a Dell Precision Workstation
470 with a 3.2 GHz Dual Core Xeon processor, two 80GB Seagate disks at 15k rpm setup with a SCSI
RAID-0 controller.  All eight computers including the Xeon are running Windows XP Professional SP2 with
all being current with hardware drivers and with Windows Update run and applied to each PC with
automatic updates.

We have never had a Network problem with this setup ... until we added the eighth PC.  Our Internet
service is DSL and the DSL modem is connected to a LinkSys 8-Port Broadband Router (wired).  This is
the first time we used all 8 ports.

The Error we started to get is as follows:

"Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service"

This error first showed up on the New PC connected to the eighth port.  After this message appeared just
once the new PC could not perform Any functions, for example, click on "My Computer", or the START
button, or Right Click on the Desktop, anything, would cause the above error message to display.  The PC
was obviously locked and dead so a Restart had to be done and this fixed the problem (for a while).  Later
it was observed that this "Insufficient system resources .." message would appear on other PCs first then
it seemed to be infectious where up to a total of four PCs were locked up due to "Insufficient system
resources .." but it has never spread to more than 4 PCs.

I read a solution on Experts-Exchange that this error may be due to an IP allocation problem and possibly
filling up all 8 ports initiated it.  So I purchased a 16-Port NetGear Switch w/auto port sensing so that
either a Crossover or Straight-thru cable could be used from the Router to the switch.  So I connected port
four of the Router to port one on the Switch and used the ports on the Switch to connect all of the PCs.

NOTE:  The Router is configured as DHCP enabled with auto IP allocation with a range from 192.168.1.100
 to 192.168.1.155.  MTU is enabled and set at 1492.  Login as a PPPoE.

But using the NetGear Switch and only one port on the Router did not solve the problem.  We are still
suffering with the locking up of PCs due to "Insufficient system resources ...".

I think I need a "Super Guru" for help on this problem.  Please, any help will be greatly appreciated.  If
you know of a solution then please be a bit detailed so that I can follow a procedure to solve this problem.

NOTE2:  I did try and disconnect & power off one of the PC's to have only 7 PCs connected and from my
 tests of running IE and anything else on all of them not one failed with the "Insufficient system
 resources ..."  error.  I can't be 100% possitive but it seems that having more than 7 ports connected
 even with a 16-port  switch from one port on an 8-port LinkSys router causes the error to appear.

Thank you very much.

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Asked On
2007-02-26 at 03:59:07ID22413110
Tags

insufficient

,

resources

,

system

,

error

,

network

Topics

Peer to Peer

,

Windows XP Operating System

,

Windows Networking

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
8

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    Answers

     

    by: burrcmPosted on 2007-02-26 at 04:19:31ID: 18608495

    Which unit is handling the DHCP, the Linksys router or the modem? What models are the modem and router?

    Chris B

     

    by: 5t34lth_G33kPosted on 2007-02-26 at 04:45:39ID: 18608602

    >>the PC that we choose to act as a File Server ... two 80GB Seagate disks at 15k rpm setup with a SCSI
    RAID-0 controller.

    Firstly, no server should be running RAID 0. You have twice as much chance of losing your data through physical disk faults. If you can, change to RAID 1 - this mirrors data from disk to the other, so you will be half as likely to suffer data loss through physical disk faults as opposed to a single disk. Compared with your current setup, you will be 25% as likely to suffer data loss. If changing to RAID 1 is not an option, make sure you have regular, good full backups and test them occasionally.

    Regarding the error:

    1 - check your virtual memory settings. Control panel -> system -> advanced -> Performance -> advanced -> virtual memoey -> change. Set the virtual memory to be 1.5 times the amount of physical ram installed. Set this for both the initial and max size and click OK on all windows. Restart the machine.

    2 - check this article from MS:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909095

    Sounds like a problem with hibernation - check your power settings in control panel and make sure you have disabled automatic hibernation (set standby and hibernate to 'never')

     

    by: LennyXTiPosted on 2007-02-26 at 15:17:34ID: 18613485

    For Burrcm (Chris B):

    The DSL Modem is a "SpeedStream" by Efficient Networks and it has the DSL phone line connected
    to it and has a WLAN Port that connects to the LinkSys 8-Port Etherfast Cable/Dsl Router's WLAN Port.
    The Model of the LinkSys Router is "BEFSR81".

    Hope this helps.  Thank you for your response.

    Len P

     

    by: LennyXTiPosted on 2007-02-26 at 15:44:30ID: 18613606

    For 5t34Ith G33k:

    Thank you for bringing up the RAID number designation.  I apologize that I made a mistake but we do
    have RAID-1 implemented.  The two 15k rpm disk are mirrored.  Thanks again for that observation.

    Regarding the Error:

    1. I have All PCs set to three times the amount of RAM.  Since all have 1GB both the start and max
    paging sizes are set to 3GB.  The Xeon PC has 2GB of RAM so both the start and max paging sizes
    are set to 6GB.

    2.  Hibernate article from MS:

    I read this articel at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909095 and it sounds possible.  I will implement this
    right after I finish writing this comment.  I didn't want any further delay in responding to you.  But I will
    write another comment soon after I try this.

    Thank you.

    Len P


     

    by: burrcmPosted on 2007-02-27 at 02:32:24ID: 18615788

    Make sure that DHCP is disabled in the SpeedStream. I suspect a conflict here. Typically though not essentially,  the server pc is set to a fixed ip which is outside the range available to DHCP, e.g. in this case you might set it to 192.168.1.80. MTU ought to be 1500, although PPPoE can prefer lower, shouldn't cause this anyway, might just slow transmission if it frags too much. Just out of curiosity, will all 8 connect to network if the Speedstream is disconnected?

    Chris B

     

    by: LennyXTiPosted on 2007-02-27 at 04:29:49ID: 18616192

    For burrcm:

    The DHCP is disabled in the SpeedStream DSL Modem.  Sounds like a good idea to set the server pc
    to an IP address outside the range of DHCP's allocation.

    When I disconnect the SpeedStream Modem the LAN functions ok but of course no Internet.

    Thank you for your response Chris.

    Len P

     

    by: LennyXTiPosted on 2007-02-27 at 04:40:42ID: 18616254

    For 5t34Ith G33k:

    I have applied the Hot Fix KB909095 to all 8 PCs and set each with "Hibernation Enabled" (for the APC
    UPSs requirement) and set the Power Scheme to "Never" for Hibernation.

    With this new setup the 8 computers have been running much longer then the time that the "Insufficient
    system resources to complete the requested service" messages would appear on several of the PCs
    and lock them up.  There has been no error messages and no PCs locking up.

    So I would have to say that this is the  "Accepted Solution"  for my problem.  Good Job!!

    Thank you  "5t34Ith G33k"  and Experts-Exchange.

    Len P


     

    by: 5t34lth_G33kPosted on 2007-02-27 at 05:13:04ID: 18616438

    glad you got it fixed and thanks for the points!

    20120131-EE-VQP-002

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