Netware 5.1 Pauses

[Byock]

I am running Netware 5.1 and every 4 minutes the server pauses, causing all clients on the network to pause as well. The Pause only lasts a few seconds, but it causes music to halt. On the term of the server, you cannot change screens until pause ends.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!! Byock.

 

[Beaghler]

Lots of things to look at: When the server slows down, what does the utilization do? Is this in a LAN or a stand alone server? What sort of processor? How old a server? What service pack level? What kind of server?

If in a network, check for time sync (TIME at the console). Then do a DSREPAIR and check syncronization status. everything should be synchronized. If you are not synced, get things in sync before proceeding (This doesn't apply if a standalone server.)Also do a DSREPAIR>advanced>repair local DS database. Include rebuild schema. Do this until you have no errors or only a few. This will lock the DS database and your users will not be able to log in until you are through.

Look at total cache buffers as related to original cache buffers. The total cache buffers should be 40% or better ot the original. If not, rebooting is the easiest way to bring this back. Look at the LRU sitting time. Novell says it needs to be better than 15 minutes. I get nervous if its less than 1/2 hour. If its not better than that range, add RAM. Long Term Cache hits should be better than 80%, except under certain circumstances. Mine stay at 95% or better.

Do you have something running that makes periodic requests to the server? SQL, ORACLE, even ACCESS can bog a server down if they are working on a big file.

Novell has a couple of documents on tuning and optimization. They make recommendations for changing the SET paramenters. I came up with a list that we paste into the autoexec to keep out servers the same.

Try all this and see what happens. Let me know and I might have other ideas.