ianh@merlin.bhpmrl.oz (Ian Hoyle) (05/02/89)
I have been having some REALLY wierd problems using Domain services in
an internet.
The problem (a rather simplified diagram) :
merlin (3500)
/ \
RING \ /
\ /
zaphod (10000 running rtsvc)
|
------------------------------------------------------------
ETHERNET |
lindon (4500)
1) rtsvc is running on the 10000.
2) when I log onto lindon and lcnode I can see both lindon and zaphod.
3) I can cd to //merlin ok, so I guess rtsvc is ok on zaphod.
4) when I cd to etc on merlin and do an 'ls' I get a full directory
listing ok.
5) BUT, when I do an 'ls p*' to list all files beginning with p, the whole
thing locks up on me.
if I have another pad open at the same time continually pinging merlin
using TCP/IP packets, the instant I type in the 'ls p*' the pinging
halts.
also, more often than not, when I regain control again, 'lcnode' will
only see lindon and will not find zaphod.
what on earth is different between doing an 'ls' and an 'ls p*' ????? Are
different packet sizes used for any obscure reason ??? (lindon is connected
to the ethernet using thinwire via a 3Com multiport repeater)
could it be the VME ethernet card in the 10000 ????
I'm obviously at a loss to explain this behaviour so I'd luv whatever clues
I can get :-)
ianwescott@LNIC2.HPRC.UH.EDU (Andrew M. Wescott) (05/04/89)
With (3) DN3500s running SR 10.1, I have seen this problem several times when doing an "ls" with options from one 3500 to another or from a 3500 to our DN10000. The problem only occurs in directories that do not contain user accounts (i.e. it does not occurr in /u1 on our machines, but everywhere else like /etc and /usr). The bottom line is that there is a bug in the file /sys/ethernet8_microcode. The solution is to rename the file to /sys/ethernet8_microcode.old and let the communication services use what is in the ROM on the ethernet controller. There is also a patch version of ethernet8_microcode available which I have, but I have not bothered to install it as the performance difference is negligible and I don't want to push my luck. This is a well-known bug within Chelmsford, and I think it has made it to "technical bulletin" status. As a secondary curiousity, I would also check to see if Unix restrictions are enforced in your registry, but I'm sure what I suggested above will do the trick. Andrew M. Wescott University of Houston Department of Chemical Engineering P.S. I am referring to /sys/ethernet8_microcode on your DN3500's and DN4500s, you won't find this file on the DN10000.