Really Strange Network Processes

[thehappyman]

Has anybody ever seen something like this ???????????

OK, I have a pretty new Alienware Aurora computer with a "Thermal Controller" built-in which controls the speeds of the three fans in the rig, dependent on some sensors and the current temperatures inside the case. In another model of the Aurora is controls the thermal venting too.

Apparently, two different Processes (that the CPU is running) are using my "Network" to communicate with each other inside the rig, independently of the internet - is this possible ????

One is called "DoorController.exe" and the other is called "RemotingServiceController.exe". The reason they call it "DoorController" is that, as stated before, in one of the Aurora models the computer electronically controls the Air Venting Door, automatically opening it when temps get above a certain level.

I have a Internet Cable "Break Switch" (in series between my Cable Modem and the Cable jack supplying the internet connection) which allows me to physically break the connection between the incoming Cable and my Cable Modem with the press of a switch (Kind of handy if you want to totally disconnect from the internet without having to unscrew the cable connector from the wall jack).

Well, I physically disconnected the Internet from my Computer and then took this "snip" from the Task Manager's "Performance Monitor" with it set to monitor "Network Activity" and it shows these two Processes "communicating". The number of bytes sent by one process is the number of bytes received by the other. This seems like proof enough to me that they are "talking to each other". I also see this activity on the "Network Monitor" Gadget which I keep on my desktop.

Anybody ever seen anything like this in a computer before ????? Make any sense ??? The "snip" from the Performance Monitor is shown below. Any comments much appreciated.

 

[DeVandal]

Isn't that a form of bus mastering?

 

[thehappyman]

Isn't that a form of bus mastering?

Could be - I'm clueless about it. Calls to Alienware have shed no light on what this could be.

 

[whs]

But that must be an Alienware special. It was probably the easiest way for them to implement the function. I also noticed on my Sony that they added all kinds of "system functions" to support their special features - e.g. a backlit keyboard.