PC Ext: Running External on PC-NFS File Services (126750)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 3.2
This article was previously published under Q126750

SYMPTOMS

When multiple Microsoft Mail Externals access the same postoffice located on a PC-NFS server, the following errors may appear in the SYSTEM.LOG:
[005] Mail retry count exceeded sending to: MAILNET /MAILP0
[016] Message was not sent due to missing message file.

Missing file is M:MAI\MA3\000162B3.MAI.

[021] Message was not delivered due to missing routing file.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when two or more Externals attempt to access the INQUEUE3.MBG and INQUEUE3.KEY files simultaneously. Normally, file locking is used to avoid a conflict. The above errors occur when PC-NFS file locking has not been enabled.

RESOLUTION

PC-NFS requires two procedures to enable file locking on shared file systems located on Sun servers. First, install the lock daemon included with PC-NFS on the server. Second, include the /MUSTSHARE or /MS command to the command line of the mount command that each External performs. The command is detailed on page 76 in the "Administration Guide" of PC-NFS version 5.0. 
   Example: NET USE     M: server:/usr1/mail32 /ms
The command can be performed on the command line, or it can be entered in the DRIVES.BAT file and performed when the redirector is started.

The network can be started using a NETWORK.BAT file in the directory including the NFS files on the local drive. The file will include entries indicating the user or workstation login. 
   Example: NET START RDR wkstation *
The machine specific addresses are located in the hosts file on each workstation. There is also another hosts file located on the server that will include the addresses of each user's workstation. 
   Example:   130.50.55.115   wkstation
      130.50.5.55     server

MORE INFORMATION

To verify that the workstations have the /MS option enabled, perform a trace on the network. If the /MUSTSHARE option is enabled, the workstation will send UDP packets to the server. Network Monitor will show the following text in the description of the UDP packet:

Src Port: Locus PC-Interface Conn Server

Testing was done with version 5.0 of PC-NFS. File locking is described in PC-NFS Administration Guide appendix A. PC-NFS is a product of SunSelect, which is a Sun Microsystems business.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/30/1999
Keywords:KB126750
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.