[comp.sys.xerox] interlisp/loops compiler bug ??

eho@bogey.Princeton.EDU (Eric Y.W. Ho) (08/07/89)

Does anyone out there have experienced getting "Connection Lost" while
compiling Koto Loops code ?  I've this 60 lines or so Koto Loops code that
breaks when doing CLEANUP.  Strangely, if the target file (DCOM) file is to
the local disk instead of going over to the fileserver then it'll be ok.
Also, if I blotch out several lines of message sending code then it'll compile
ok too even going over to the fileserver.  This is really weird.  I've checked
the fileserver (which is just a 8000 fileserver) and it is fine both in terms
of hardware & software -- I've tried this several times by going over to my
2nd & 3rd fileservers instead and got the same responses.  Then I tried doing
this on other nodes (mostly 1108) and got the same responses.  Compiling other
files of ordinary Interlisp & Loops code remain fine otherwise.

Any pointers will be much appreciated.
--

Eric Ho
Cognitive Science Lab.,		Princeton University
voice = 609-987-2987		email = eho@confidence.princeton.edu
					eho@bogey.princeton.edu

regards.

-eric-

welch@CIS.OHIO-STATE.EDU (Arun Welch) (08/07/89)

This isn't a compiler bug, but rather a "network bug" (in quotes
'cause it's not really a bug). What's happening is that the compiler
is compiling a particularly large hunk of code, and isn't blocking
long enough for the packets to get through to the file server.  The
file server sees that there aren't any packets for a while, and
decides that the dlion went off the net, so it closes the connection.
Meanwhile the dlion finishes compiling, wants to write those bytes out
to the server and finds that it's connection is closed, thus
producing the error. As far as I know, there's no fix for it but to
compile on the local disk and copy the file over to the file server.

...arun

Michael_Vines@artificial-intelligence.co.uk (08/09/89)

Have you got the Lisp Patch Option installed on your servers?  I
believe this has something to do with extending the timeout
parameter on servers.

Michael Vines
Systems Manager
Artificial Intelligence Ltd
Watford, England