High NCP utilization

[rsebasti]

I have a network of 5 Novell 5 servers. NDS primary root replica is held in the main state server which acts as the primary time server for the other interstate servers as well. The other interstate servers have their own primary partitions of the NDS.

Our network people have given me a utilization report. The report shows one interstate server is communicating with the primary and producing a daily aggregate of 20Mb worth of NCP traffic towards the primary. The graph shows an erratic stream of 1-2 Mbs every 15 minutes which totals to around 20Mbs daily. The other interstate servers show around a meg's worth which seem normal as this is whats happening with the remaining interstate servers.

1. I need to isolate the cause of this traffic - does anyone have an idea of isolating the traffic within the server?

2. The problem may be a communications or network protocol setting - does anyone know what I should be looking for on the problem interstate server?

 

[salserocito]

Here ya go! This should be able to give you all the info you need...

http://support.novell.com/cgi-bin/search/searchtid.cgi?/10052216.htm

The utility is NCP Trace. It will guide you through what NCP traffic is travelling across the Network.

Good Luck!

 

[rsebasti]

I have been to this Novell page and done what it sez but it doesn't tell me anything useful. I even started looking at the NCP function codes that it reports.

OK OK if this is the best way to isolate the NCP traffic on the server then I will try again and extend the search. But there must be a better way...

Now about those set commands to look out for - any ideas?

Is there a way to get all these settings in one hit? into a file maybe?

 

[salserocito]

Most SET Parameters are initiated from the STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF. With that being said, you could either put the SET Parameters within each file, or call a batch file that initiates them. In theory, it should work, but I have never tried making that many changes at one time.

Good Luck.

 

[rsebasti]

Thats's true but most SET parameters are left to default settings. Which means most of the stuff on the startup and autoexec ncf's are those specific to the server.

I am after a way to display or pipe them all into a file.

Maybe a utility?

I will be checking NCP trace today as well but I wouldn't mind a hand with the set parameters so I can compare this server's settings to the others that work fine.

 

[salserocito]

Try Compaq's (HP's) SURVEY Utility. You can download it for free from the Compaq (HP) website. SURVEY is quite comprehensive and should offer you quite a bit of detail regarding your Server... including SET Parameters!

Good Luck!

 

[rsebasti]

I use IBM Netfinity servers + I can't seem to find th download link for this utility... ========================================
I learnt the most
when I stopped talking...

 

[salserocito]

Here ya go...

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/download/10720.html

Good Luck!

 

[rsebasti]

Sal,
This only supports CompaQ machines... will this work on IBM Netfinity. ========================================
I learnt the most
when I stopped talking...

 

[salserocito]

It sure will... only with some of the more Compaq-specific options will it not report. But you will get a full report of the NetWare options!

You can also try LOAD CONFIG at the Server Console. This is a Native NetWare NLM that will also report what you are asking.

Good Luck!

 

[rsebasti]

Now how about a way of finding out what is producing this traffic from this server to the main office server. Is there someway I can check the processes running like perfmon? ========================================
I learnt the most
when I stopped talking...