AppServers randomly taking longer to perform identical tasks as other AppServers on Windows 2003 Servers with Broadcom network cards that have TOE enabled.

AppServers randomly taking longer to perform identical tasks as other AppServers on Windows 2003 Servers with Broadcom network cards that have TOE enabled.
No contention for resources.
Performance problem only occurs when going across network from machine to machine.
Performance problem identified on some Windows 2003 machines but not all.
Broadcom network cards installed on Windows 2003 servers with problems.
TOE (TCP/IP Offload Engine) is enabled on Broadcom cards installed on Windows 2003 servers with problems.
AppServers stuck in sending.
Appserver Brokers lose true status of agents
Cannot connect to Appserver
Orphaned Appserver processes

Problem stops if TOE disabled

Problem exists using Broadcom TOE (TCP/IP Offload Engine) implementation.

The following information was adapted from the MicroSoft Knowledge Base here:  MicroSoft KB 951037
How to configure TCP Chimney Offload in the operating system

     * To determine the current status of TCP Chimney Offload, follow these steps:
         1. Use administrative credentials to open a command prompt.
         2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
            netsh int tcp show global 
     * To disable TCP Chimney Offload, follow these steps:
         1. Use administrative credentials to open a command prompt.
         2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
            netsh int tcp set global chimney=disabled

How to configure TCP Chimney Offload on the network adapter

    * To enable or disable TCP Chimney Offload, follow these steps:
         1. Open Device Manager.
         2. Under Network Adapters, double-click the network adapter that you want.
         3. On the Advanced tab, click Disabled in the box next to the TCP offload entry.

         NOTE:  This will disable and re-enable the network card.

         Note Different manufacturers may use different terms to describe TCP Chimney Offload on the Advanced properties page of the network adapter.

 

References to problems related to Broadcom Network Cards and Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951037
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942861
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945977
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899759