Windows server 2008 handle count

At the user-mode level ports actually sockets are handles. Both TaskManager and ProcessExplorer are able to display handle counts which allows you to identify which process is consuming all of the ports. If method 1 does not help you identify the process prior to Windows 10 and Windows Server R2 , then have a look at Task Manager:.

Sort the column handles to identify the process with the highest number of handles. Usually the process with handles greater than could be the culprit except for processes like System, lsass. If any other process than these has a higher number, stop that process and then try to login using domain credentials and see if it succeeds. If Task Manager did not help you identify the process, then use Process Explorer to investigate the issue. Download Process Explorer and run it Elevated.

Examine the processes with higher handle counts than the rest will likely be over 10, if you can't make outbound connections. In the lower pane, the handles listed as below are sockets. Sockets are technically file handles. Some are normal, but large numbers of them are not hundreds to thousands. Close the process in question.

If that restores outbound connectivity, then you have further proven that the app is the cause. Contact the vendor of that app. Finally, if the above methods did not help you isolate the process, we suggest you collect a complete memory dump of the machine in the issue state.

The dump will tell you which process has the maximum handles. As a workaround, rebooting the computer will get the it back in normal state and would help you resolve the issue for the time being. However, when a reboot is impractical, you can also consider increasing the number of ports on the machine using the below commands:. This will set the dynamic port range to start at port and to end at port ports. Note that increasing the dynamic port range is not a permanent solution but only temporary.

For Windows 7 and Windows Server R2, you can use the below script to collect the netstat output at defined frequency. From the outputs, you can see the port usage trend. Skip to main content. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info. Feedback will be sent to Microsoft: By pressing the submit button, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services.

Privacy policy. A handle to the process whose handle count is being requested. For more information, see Process Security and Access Rights.

A pointer to a variable that receives the number of open handles that belong to the specified process. If the function fails, the return value is zero. Applications such as the Windows Task Manager, the Reliability and Performance Monitor, and the Process Explorer tool use performance counters to display memory information for the system and for individual processes. This topic associates performance counters with the data returned by memory performance functions and the Windows Task Manager:.

Memory Object. Objects Object. Process Object. Process Explorer tool.