Concurrent connections limit

[Lisandro]

Account: '...@gmail.com'
Server: '127.0.0.1'
Protocol: POP3
Server answer: '-ERR concurrent connections limit in avast exceeded (pass:50, processes:?PID4[50]), there is a collision with another program'
Port: 120
Secure (SSL): No
Server error: 0x800CCC90
Error number: 0x800CCC90

I'm on Vista. Windows Mail. Spamihilator on port 120. Stunnel.
Everything was working until yesterday. I know how to configure all applications.
What's wrong?

[Lisandro]

Just to mention.
PID4 is System process from System... 

[DavidR]

Well there is a possibility that something is using System, so you need to check what, process explorer is one but one I favour is a command line to delve into it

Find out what is using the SVCHOST Service.
Windows Start, Run, type (or copy and paste) "cmd.exe /k tasklist /svc > c:\tasklist.txt" without the quotes - this opens a command window and runs the tasklist for services, the > c:\tasklist.txt outputs the results to the file and location given:

svchost.exe                 1020 DcomLaunch, TermService                     
svchost.exe                 1080 RpcSs                                       
svchost.exe                 1108 AudioSrv, BITS, CryptSvc, dmserver,         
                                 EventSystem, helpsvc, HidServ, Netman, Nla, 
                                 RasMan, Schedule, SENS, SharedAccess,       
                                 ShellHWDetection, TapiSrv, Themes, winmgmt, 
                                 wscsvc, wuauserv                             

What does your firewall log say was accessing port 120 ?

[Lisandro]

Find out what is using the SVCHOST Service.

That means nothing to me:

Code: [Select]

System 4 N/A

svchost.exe 844 DcomLaunch, PlugPlay
 
svchost.exe 888 ASBroker, ASChannel

svchost.exe 932 RpcSs

svchost.exe 968 WinDefend

svchost.exe 1052 Audiosrv, Dhcp, Eventlog, lmhosts, wscsvc

svchost.exe 1096 AudioEndpointBuilder, EMDMgmt, hidserv, Netman, PcaSvc, SysMain, Table-tInputService, TrkWks, UxSms, WdiSystemHost, Wlansvc, WPDBusEnum, wudfsvc

svchost.exe 1144 AeLookupSvc, Appinfo, BITS, Browser, EapHost, iphlpsvc, LanmanServer, MMCSS, ProfSvc, RasMan, Schedule, seclogon, SENS, ShellHWDetection, Themes, Winmgmt, wuauserv

svchost.exe 1272 gpsvc

svchost.exe 1352 EventSystem, FDResPub, LanmanWorkstation, netprofm, nsi, SCardSvr, SSDPSRV, TBS, upnphost, W32Time, WebClient

svchost.exe 1524 CryptSvc, Dnscache, NlaSvc, TapiSrv, TermService

spamihilator.exe 4144 N/A

[DavidR]

Well, I was hoping that there would be something running under it and possibly svchost as I can't see why System would be using concurrent connections.

I was also hoping that there would be a process that was identifiable as one that would be using up connections. Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the case.

I guess it is down to trying to find out why the collision on port 120 (Spamihilator from your original post) I don't know how spamihilator works or if it uses multiple connections.

Windows Mail is the new Outlook Express isn't it ?
If so there are lots of hits on a google search for the error 0x800CCC90, mostly about OE, I had a quick look but I didn't find anything relating to concurrent connections, etc.

You could always increase the current connections limit, but I suspect that it may fall over at the new level.

[Lisandro]

I guess it is down to trying to find out why the collision on port 120 (Spamihilator from your original post) I don't know how spamihilator works or if it uses multiple connections.

I've changed the account settings and the collision is there... strange, the settings bypass Spamihilator completely, using port 11110 and Stunnel.

Windows Mail is the new Outlook Express isn't it ?

Yes.

You could always increase the current connections limit, but I suspect that it may fall over at the new level.

I'll test. Thanks David.

[DavidR]

No problem, just about to call it a night, almost 2:45 a.m. here and my bed is calling.

[Lisandro]

No problem, just about to call it a night, almost 2:45 a.m. here and my bed is calling.

David, just to let you know. It worked... Now I don't know if the problem is only avast concurrent limit or Comodo...

[DavidR]

I don't think it is comodo as that doesn't initiate the concurrent connections, it would just be monitoring/recording them. I think because there is such a big deal made about port 120 that it has to be something to do with that.

I assume there are no firewall logs to indicate exactly what is using that port ?

[Lisandro]

I assume there are no firewall logs to indicate exactly what is using that port ?

No David. If I have I would take a look.
I'm in the middle of the process of removing both (Comodo and PCTools) to keep just Comodo.
Right now, only Vista firewall is active.

[DavidR]

What is strange is that this is effectively the same set-up as you had before but running under Vista, yet you didn't have this problem on XP, weird.

[Lisandro]

What is strange is that this is effectively the same set-up as you had before but running under Vista, yet you didn't have this problem on XP, weird.

I've set the concurrent connections to 500... Is it too much?

[DavidR]

I would say it is too high, I would have started with say 75 then 100 (until you find the minimum it works with) to see if this clash still happens.

The more connections you have the more bandwidth is used so may slow other functions like browsing. Obviously more connections pulls down the data quicker so for a short period of time other applications may be noticeably slower.

[Lisandro]

Problem still present...
Anybody from Alwil team has a suggestion?

[DavidR]

That really is weird why the problem doesn't exist on your XP system but does on Vista Business when you have effectively the same avast version, spamihiliator, the firewall shouldn't have any effect as it isn't what initiate the connections.