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unknown server messages

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Mike Haugen

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Nov 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM11/29/00
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I have a couple of computers that receive "unknown server" messages at least
twice a day. These are windows 98 machines with novell client 3.1 on both.
This is a very small network at a remote site. Only 2 computers, 1 printer,
Netware 3.2 server, and and ISDN router to connect up to our main site. To
add to the complexity, these 2 users login to the local net and in the login
script, it is set to make a connection to our Netware 5.0 server at our main
site for things like GroupWise and a shared directory on this server. It's
kind of messy for management purposes and we plan on upgrading the local 3.2
server.
The "unknown server" messages usually indicate the name of the server at our
main site, so initially I thought it might be something with the router.
But I have also seen the name of the local 3.2 server referenced in the
"unknown server" messages so I think it may have something to do with the
old stuff at the local site. The only way the users can fix this problem is
to down the local 3.2 server and bring it back up again, then everything
maps up fine and works untill the next time.
I've tried replacing the NIC in the local 3.2 server. The problem still
happens. I've noticed some misc errors in monitor and some checksum errors,
but the counts don't seem real high to me, so I would think that if it's
some kind of a cable problem, it would only happen with one computer, but
these troubles occur on both computers. Could it be a problem with the hub?
It's just a small 8 port 100/baseT hub. We did have some problems with the
power supply to it a while back.
The local server is old. It's a Pentium 90 with an older SCSI HD in it, but
I don't see any bad blocks or anything to indicate it's a HD problem. One
thing, I have noticed is that sometimes when I try to copy a bunch of files
from our main network to this 3.2 server, I get messages to the effect of
"An unknown problem is preventing files from being copied" and then I have
to start the copy over.
I'm at a loss on this one and don't want to spend that much time
troubleshooting it because everything will be upgraded, but I'm going crazy
because I get calls everyday from the users about the "unknown server"
messages. The setup has worked in the past and only started happening in
the last 2 months, but I just can't think of anything that may have changed.
One thing about this location is that they do have a lot of power outages,
but everything is plugged into a UPS.
Any help would be greatly appreciated or if anyone can think of something I
may have missed, that would be great.

Thanks,

Mike . . .

Dave Kearns-NSCV

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Nov 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM11/29/00
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I'd suspect a cable, hub (or hub port) or network card problem. Since
it appears to clear up when the server is rebooted, I'd start by
swapping out the NIC in the server...

-dave

"Mike Haugen" <fs...@compuserve.com> wrote in message
news:903f6c$9q...@nexus.provo.novell.com...

Don Crawford

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Nov 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM11/30/00
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To Mike Haugen:

> novell client 3.1 on both.
>

You should consider updating the client, too...


-- Don Crawford
Novell Support Connection SysOp

Barry Schnur

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Dec 1, 2000, 12:55:30 AM12/1/00
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> You should consider updating the client, too...
>

For what it's worth, I'm still running 3.1SP2 on most of my client configurations. I've
begun to shift to 3.21 of late (it's a bit better in some situations).

Barry Schnur
Novell Support Connection Volunteer Sysop
http://support.novell.com/forums/
Please post replies ONLY via the Newsgroup

Don Crawford

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Dec 1, 2000, 3:00:00 AM12/1/00
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To Barry Schnur:

> For what it's worth, I'm still running 3.1SP2 on most of my client configurations. I've
> begun to shift to 3.21 of late (it's a bit better in some situations).
>

Well, with the update...

Barry Schnur

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Dec 1, 2000, 8:38:01 PM12/1/00
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>
> Well, with the update...
>
Indeed

Don Crawford

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Dec 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM12/4/00
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To Barry Schnur:

> Indeed
>

Are you having problems with 3.21?

Barry Schnur

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Dec 4, 2000, 9:30:51 PM12/4/00
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> Are you having problems with 3.21?
>
No -- I meant the update to 3.1 (SP2).

Don Crawford

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Dec 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM12/5/00
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To Barry Schnur:

> No -- I meant the update to 3.1 (SP2).
>

Understood, but I thought you said you were also starting to deploy 3.21 and I
wondered if you were experiencing any problems there...

Barry Schnur

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Dec 5, 2000, 11:01:31 PM12/5/00
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>
> Understood, but I thought you said you were also starting to deploy 3.21 and I
>wondered if you were experiencing any problems there...

So far it's been fine. With 3.1 I've occasionally had to have folks first disconnect from
the network prior to shut down. But then again, I've seen that with 3.21 and 3.3 and Dell
workstations running 98SE.

Don Crawford

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Dec 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM12/6/00
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To Barry Schnur:

> So far it's been fine. With 3.1 I've occasionally had to have folks first disconnect from
> the network prior to shut down. But then again, I've seen that with 3.21 and 3.3 and Dell
> workstations running 98SE.
>

OK, thanks!

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