HP OpenVMS Systems

Effects of Power Failures? (Network, OpenVMS)

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The Question is:

 
We recently had a hang of our VMS 5.5-2 system after a significant loss of
power event on some of our network devices thru which we communicate via
DECnet.  We lost power to 5 terminal servers and 2, 8-port FDDI hubs.
During the power loss there was no d
isruption of the VAX 4500 nor it's disks.  My question is in regards to
DECnet's response to loss of network devices.  How quickly does DECnet
timeout theses devices?  Can significant power distruptions to network
partners cause the VMS hang that we obser
ved?
 
 

The Answer is :

 
  Without detailed specifics of the power outage problem and of the hang,
  it is very difficult to determine exactly what happened.
 
  DECnet is not used to communicate with terminal servers -- the MOP
  protocol (available as part of DECnet Phase IV, DECnet-Plus, and in
  the OpenVMS LANCP utility available in OpenVMS V6.2 and later) is used
  for the initial download and (if necessary) for an upline dump.  Other
  than these MOP operations that occur at terminal server bootstrap and
  at terminal server crash, LAT or (depending on the terminal server) IP
  protocols are used.  Not DECnet.
 
  Failures at FDDI hubs can obviously cause problems for any network
  protocols operating over the FDDI link.  This includes DECnet, LAT,
  IP, clustering, and any of the other protocols that might be using
  the FDDI rings.
 
  DECnet circuit timeouts should detect and report circuit failures,
  please see the current system NCP or NCL settings for the setting of
  the timeout on the local system.  The OpenVMS Wizard would not
  typically expect a complete hang due strictly to DECnet.
 

  

     

     
answer written or last revised on ( 2-APR-1999 )
     
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