Database corruption. HELP!!

[DeanSpencer]

For the last month, I have a client running a piece of software that is using dbase dbf's as the databases. What is happening is the transaction database is getting a corrupt header. Apparently the database is supposed to keep up with all transactions made with the application. The database can run as long as 2 or 3 days before it gets corrupt. The software company says that it has to be a hardware problem. That they have over 7000 clients running the software whenever this "type" of problem occurs, it is usually a hardware problem. We have tried just about everything, we have moved the data from one hard drive on the server(NT4,SP6a), to another hard drive on the same server. We have replaced the 10/100 hub with a 10/100 switch. We ran a sniffer on the network and it never showed a hardware problem. We replaced the ram and the nic in the server. Yesterday, we moved the data to another server and the software company upgraded the software to the latest version. Toady, it was already corrupted. When the file gets corrupt, it goes from a 50mb file to a 2.3gb file. The software company dials in and fixes the header of the file and it goes back to the normal size again. Oh, I also scanned all workstations for viri also, and they all came up clean. The only thing we haven't done yet is to format the workstations and replace all the nic's. But, like I said, we ran a sniffer and it showed no network errors. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
TIA,

A+ MCP
deans@bellsouth.net

 

[cmptrnerd]

I would move to different server. If problem still persisted, I would look more it to the worstations somehow curruting file.

How many users access the file at one time ?

Mark
Mark@acsconsult.com

 

[DeanSpencer]

We have moved it to another server and within 24 hrs, it was corrupt again. I guess the next step would be to replace the NICS in all the workstations. Only 10 workstations local that access it all at once. A+ MCP
deans@bellsouth.net

 

[cmptrnerd]

I don't know about replaceing nic's. How are the users shutting down their systems. About the only time I get this problem is when there is a power problem when someone is using file. What type of Nic cards, and what type of workstations.

Mark
mark@acsconsult.com

 

[DeanSpencer]

win89 and a couple of win95 workstations. Are you asking how they are shutting down the OS or the app? As far as the app, the app will only let them shut it down gracefully, unless it hangs and they have to do a <ctrl>+<alt>+<del> to kill it.
I did find a web page talkin about win95 and the redirector vxd getting corrupt and it might need to be updated. It applied specifically talked about 95 and NT server.
The only other thing I have found on the web was about power issues at the server. Well, havin it on 2 different servers and both on UPS's , pretty much rule out that. Unless it is on the workstation.
In the morning, I am going to check out the 95 workstations, and possibly upgrade them to 98.
We'll see.
A+ MCP
deans@bellsouth.net

 

[cmptrnerd]

I have seen many end users, just shut off the computer when told to get out or at end of day. See if you can see any patterns such as what machine's or who was on the system when the Database goes bad.

Also, once saw database go bad after install of camera monitor equipment installed around cabling. We ran a sniffer and didn't see the problem. Replaced server but problem started after they put the camera monitor in the system. Moved computer cables away from monitor system and problem went away.

I don't think 98 is any better than 95, but look at what is different about your office since this problem started. Check with environment, new software added to workstations.

Mark
mark@acsconsult.com

 

[sharder]

Have you checked Q249799 on the Microsoft Technet web site? If you are getting database timeouts due to poor network performance, this might do the trick.

 

[DrainSurgeon]

Did the problem started after you installed the 6a service pack. We have had a lot of problems with it. If you did save your last service pack try uninstalling 6a and see what happens. If you can see no change then you can reinstall it again

 

[DeanSpencer]

Moved data over to another server,actually a NT4 terminal server and still doing the same thing. A+ MCP
deans@bellsouth.net

 

[raygg]

What kind of db software is it? Oracle, Access, SQLServer, Informix etc?

 

[DeanSpencer]

Software package uses Dbase/Foxpro type of databases. A+ MCP
deans@bellsouth.net

 

[raygg]

How many rows in the largest table and what is the frequency of update? Is the updating mainly changes or or adds or a mix of both? How many concurrent users?

 

[DeanSpencer]

raygg,
not sure about the database tables(not the programmer here), there are about 10 concurrent users on at a time.
the software company finally got on the ball and we restored a good copy of the database from about a month ago, reinstalled the software(fyi, it contains about 300 dbase database files), copied the good database over into the new install of the software, applied patches for the software(23 of them), and turned them loose on it. been running for about 2 weeks now and haven't had anymore data corruptions.

thanks to all who responded.. A+ MCP
deans@bellsouth.net