robert@psych.psy.uq.oz (Robert Dal Santo) (12/30/89)
This is being posted for a friend. Please E-mail any replies
to me and I will pass them on.
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We have a 3Com 3+Share (version 1.3.1) network running with
35 PC Workstations and two IBM PS/2 model 70s as servers.
I have one '70 configured as a print server (two network printers
off com1: and lpt1:) and name server, with practically ALL data/programs
residing on the other '70. (Ultimately the network is supposed to support
60+ workstations, so the currently installed 35 will stay "on" that
second share server).
Half the workstations are practically "inactive", as they invoke a standard
MS-DOS terminal emulation program (ZSTEM) in the morning from the server
and stay "in" that program the rest of the day (using the workstations'
com1: RS232 ports to connect to our mini). The other 16+ PC's actively
run WordPerfect 5.0 (network version).
The workstations are physically scattered over five <= 300 metre lengths
of thinwire ethernet, terminating in a 3Com Multiconnect box. Both
servers are connected to the first leg. The workstations have 3Com
etherlink II ethernet cards, the PS/2's 3Com MCA etherlink boards.
We have a recurring problem, in that we "lose" the name service or
share service every one or two days. Active workstations get a
Network retrying ... Press <Ctrl><Break> to stop
message, but NEVER "recover". New logins from previously unused
workstations are impossible, with either the name service or share
service "not responding". Both servers have the normal "3PLUS 1.3.1
running as a dedicated server" message with no diagnostics or error messages
(status.log doesn't log any events at crash time either). Ultimately
one or both servers have to be rebooted, although once, after some of the
WORKSTATIONS were rebooted, the servers (apparently) DID recover and
permit new logins.
I've had 3Com advice from two experts (one locally available, another in
the distributor's headquarters in Sydney) with both basically giving me
"tuning" recommendations, which have alleviated the problem somewhat, but
NOT eliminated it. Would anyone on the net be able to help me out?
Do you:
1. Know of any bugs/problems with 3Com 3+Share 1.3.1
running on IBM PS/2 model 70's?
2. Believe that 3+Share should be able to (easily?)
support 35 workstations on one or two '70 servers?
3. Support my view that a Workstation with the
"Network retrying ..."
message *should* be able to recover? (I've not yet
seen a workstation actually recover and continue work -
we've always had to reboot the workstations (after trying
to save WordPerfect documents on floppy) and eventually,
after a decent period awaiting an automatic resurrection,
the servers themselves).
I'd greatly appreciate any assistance.
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Robert Dal Santo Phone +61 7 377 4063 (International)
Department of Psychology, ARPA: robert%psych.psy.uq.oz@uunet.uu.net
University of Queensland, UUCP: ..!uunet!munnari!psych.psy.uq.oz!robert
St Lucia, Brisbane, 4067 JANET: psych.psy.uq.oz!robert@ukc
AUSTRALIA.