NSS Pool lost

[ronfu]

We got this Problem first on Compaq ML350 G3 with a 5300 Araycontroller and running NW6 SP2 that after 2 weeks the Server had a abend. when the server was rebooted, Netware didn't start up completely, only the things in the startup.ncf, meaning the c: Partition is available. some research showed that all NSS pools are lost and couldn't restored with nss tools. If you try to reinstall Netware, it recognize that there was a system before but could not update because the SYS Volume is not mounted!
now we have this experience regularly afte one to two weeks the server loose its pool, it doesn't matter if the server is with SP2 SP3 or without. last week the same on a ML370. we have good relations to Novell but it seems we are the first with this kind of trouble!

any help out there??

 

[terry712]

never seen this and i have quite a few of same server spec and no probs

really cant any think where to start

does the logs help
is it post abend that they go?

 

[TheBoySmith]

There is a known issue with the HP smartstart.

If you installed the server with a dos partition of greater than 1.5Gb the server will lose it after a re-boot. Not everytime and not with one boot but at sometime.

Procedure to recover. If you have another Netware 6 box.

1. On running server load dosfat.nss
2. Take a copy of the dos partion and burn it to a cd. (This can be done from a client as the c drive will be mounted on the server and available.)
3. On failed server fdisk the corrupt dos partition.
4. Create a new dos partition. (Make sure it is bootable)
5. Copy cd contents that was created in point 2.
6. Check the startup.ncf to make sure the correct drivers for the server.
7. Reboot server.
8. You may have to service pack or what have you after but the server will load.

You shouldn't need to do the procedure again.

If possible get a copy of your c partition before a reboot and create a cd. Leave it next to the server. JUST IN CASE.

The bug is in version 6.x of the smartstart. The bug is only of the partition is bigger than 1.5Gb but we now only create 500Mb or 1Gb partitions.


Lee Smith
Associated Network Services
Snr Systems Engineer
Lee.Smith@ANSPLC.Com