On a mixed Arev/OI7.1 site running on Netware 5.1 with the NLM installed (version 1.5 - LHIPXTSR version 1.5a) we are sometimes getting GFEs in a well used file. It SEEMS that the GFEs occur when the file attempts to re-size (grow, records are never deleted from the file). However, the funny situation is that if the files are copied (by Windows Explorer, or at DOS) then thosae copies are copied back in, the GFEs no longer exists. No need to run DUMP or anything.

We have turrned compression off on the directory, to see if that makes a difference.

The phantom GFEs occur about once every two or three months.

Any one got a suggestion?

J

Jonathan,

Are the phantom GFEs appearing on multiple workstations? If not, then I would look at the RAM of NIC of the client. If so, then my first guess is usually RAM on the server. It could also be a failing hard drive and by the time you copy the file off and back on Novell has already protected those sectors.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

What's the FS number?

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Correct me if I am wrong but with Novell 5.1 don't you need version 5 of the NLM? or did I misunderstand your statements?

Have you considered the UD?

John

This is a caching problem. Most likely it is at a workstation level, but we have seen problems on the server as well. It appears to be caused when some cache contains data that no longer matches what is physically on the disk (such as after the file is re-sized).

Copying the files must change or refresh the contents of the offending cache. We have seen it for years, at multiple sites, with various configurations. It is hard to narrow down to a specific cache, though, because nearly everything caches something these days.

In Windows 9x there are specific Windows caching settings you can turn off. They are in the disk performance/ advanced settings/ trouble-shooting section, or something like that. Be sure to disable the write caching.

In Windows 2000/XP these same settings do not exist. You might be able to disable caching on the disk controller card, but we usually do not do this as it impacts general Windows performance too much.

Also, the Novell Client caches a bunch of things. You need to look through the Novell Client settings and disable anything that looks like it could cache your data. The default Novell Client settings are configured for performance, not data integrity (their description, not mine). Novell also has excellent server-based caching, so the workstation-level caching does not contribute much for database operations.

Also, do not attempt to repair one of these phantom problems with DUMP until you have re-started everything (insure that you have re-initialized the caches) and verified the problem actually exists. If it is a phantom (caching) problem, you likely will create real corruption by fixing it without insuring the offending cache has been re-initialized. Basically, you want to insure that you are reading directly from the disk, and not from the corrupted cache, as you verify and fix the problem.

We see this problem less often on Windows servers, with the Windows Service, but we do see it. Stopping and re-starting the service seems to accomplish the same thing (it must re-initialze the offending cache).

If you discover anything else about all of this, please pass it on.

Thnkas Don. The GFE's are on all workstations, so it seems that the problem is on the server.

FS493

Do you think re-making the file very large, and then turning off its ability to re-size would help?

J

Not sure. The large file seems like a band aide. I would try to find the underlying cause. If the system is well, you will not have problems like this.

Judt checking that turbodis is installed?

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Are you saying it should be, or not?

Ta,

J

Since posting my question above, I've taken a look at the Novel page on TURBODIS and see what is required. Thanks.

J

K - invalid frame headers are normally a good giveaway.

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