I'm posting this in the hope that someone will quickly tell me I've overlooked something obvious (those who know me will confirm that this is a distinct possibility!

We're running ARev on Novell 4.2 using Ethernet, with the NLM v1.5 (full details below.) We recently added a couple of new servers, and since then have had sporadic problems logging into Arev, both on the old servers and on the new ones. Double-click the icon, and the system MIGHT connect, or it might fail with an FS477. No real pattern, other than that some servers are noticeably more likely to fail in this manner than others. If I disconnect from a couple of servers before attempting to log in then the problems go away - completely. Interestingly, while disconnecting from servers to prove this first effect, I've also noticed that the fewer servers I'm connected to, then the less likely I am to have the ARev sessions TERMINATE abnormally (e.g. with string space, or RTP9 errors.) Equally interestingly it doesn't seem to matter whether I disconnect from servers with or without the NLM - it seems to be just the total number that matters.

As far as I can see, we've got all the NLM parameters set up correctly on each server but as I say, I may be missing something obvious. Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

TIA,

Cameron

PS In case it helps, the following may be useful:

1. AREV 3.12, NLM 1.5

2. Novell 4.2, SP9

3. Now 14 Novell servers, 9 licensed and configured with NLMs.

4. Disk space and RAM in servers (and I quote), "loads"

5. Workstation o/s NT, SP6

6. Novell Client 4.83, SP1

7. Network card type(s) COMPAQ N100, NC31220

8. DOS irrelevant (using NTVDM)

9. W/S protocols : IPX/SPX, ICP/IP, NETBIOS

10. Server parameters: LH /e /s:24, LHIPXSER /p:1458 /m:15

11. W/S parameters : LHIPXTSR /p /c:240 /r:256 (/s:20 makes no odds)

I haven't ever faced such a challenge, but I'll try to guess.

How many copies of Arev you have installed on your servers?

If different servers have different copies and one ot these servers has NLM and the other hasn't, you have to use different batch-files for starting Arev - with lhipxtsr and without it.

If you use one Novell server to launch Arev and use another to access data and one of these server is NLM-server and the other is not, there may be conflict between client and server part of NLM?

Peter, thanks for your comments.

Each server is capable of operating completely independently i.e. each has its own copy of AREV and its own NLM. We have no linear hash data *anywhere* that isn't covered.

Occasionally, when upgrading, a session may look to a different server for some data, but mostly they're 100% discrete (this is certainly the case when the initial connection fails!)

We do run the same serial numbered AREV.EXE on each (I know this won't work on NT.) And we did fork out for an unlimited number of user licences to support this, before anyone asks! No reason to doubt the validity of this approach previously, as it worked/works just fine with only 10 servers mapped simultaneously.

It's not a showstopper as problems go, and we can work round it by mapping and unmapping dynamically, but I just hate a mystery. (Especially as we are likely to expand further in the near future…)

If I recall correctly, unlimited doesn't mean unlimited but rather 256 users (or some other finite number). Also, when you connect to multiple copies, I think the user count that applies is the sum of all users on all visible systems. But then, I would expect to see a different message than you're getting.

I assume all your servers use the same frame type and the workstations are configured for that frame type. Also, could SAP filtering be an issue here?

Victor (grasping at straws)

Cam,

If memory serves the local server table in the Netware client has only eight entries max. At least it did back in the old DOS client days.

You may therefore have to detach a server before attaching the desired server. Check the Novell ATTACH command (it accepts username parameters and also server parameters, and is also capable of a detach, I believe.

I visited this topic briefly when trying to do some Novell verbs for AREV. A login verb was wanted, and I could see the structures in memory.

I could be wrong, but try the detach/attach/login/map option and see if that works any better for you.

Otherwise it may be possible to set a preferred server setting to opt for the AREV server.

Steve

The Sprezzatura Group

World Leaders in all things RevSoft

Thanks Guys. (And apologies for all my multiple posts - something on my browser doesn't like this "Submit" button!)

We'd never go above 200 simultaneous connections across all systems anyway, and this is pretty definitely not a factor I'm sure.

I'm reliably informed that all our servers use the same frame type and all the workstations are configured for that frame type. Also, SAP filtering is not an issue on our LAN. SAP is being filtered for printers on some WAN links, but none of their clients have a problem & we're not connecting to their server for ARev.

What I can't work out is why the effect is sporadic. Sometimes a connection works first time, others I can try and fail 5 times and then succeed within a few seconds.

ATTACH it is!

Cheers,

Cameron

For the avoidance of doubt, installing the same serial numbered EXE on more than one server regardless of the user count is a breach of license. In fact the license is quite explicit on this matter saying A LAN Pack licenses multiple users to access one shared copy of Advanced Revelation on a network.

Should anyone require any further clarification please contact your local Revelation sales office.

Revelation Software EMEA Support

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