Three Conditions Affecting Maynstream OS/2 Software (99592)

SUMMARY

When you install Maynard Maynstream OS/2 software on a LAN Manager 2.1 server, several conditions arising during file system backup can affect operation and performance. This article discusses three reported conditions and how to avoid or alleviate them.

Systems on which these conditions have been observed consisted of:

Gateway 2000 486DX2/50 EISA machine with an Adaptec 174x controller running in enhanced mode
MicroNet 2 GB hard disk
Maynstream 16-bit ISA SCSI board
Maynard 5000 5 MB tape backup system
LAN Manager 2.1 server running HPFS386 on all volumes

MORE INFORMATION

Condition 1

The Maynard software reports that it cannot open certain files scattered throughout a directory tree's subdirectories. Sometimes files that are completely accessible from an OS/2 command prompt and that have extended attributes (EAs) and permissions are set correctly do not get backed because an MS-DOS/Windows machine does not understand an extended attribute and does not read it across the net. So new EAs are created as the files are moved back to the OS/2 server.

Resolution: Use an MS-DOS or Windows workstation to copy all of the files to another place on the same disk that stripped the EAs.

Condition 2

A number of files are reported "Not Found on the hard drive" during the backup verify phase. The path attached to the files is not correct, or for some reason the Maynstream software is not reading the directories and paths properly when it writes the files to tape.

Resolution: Create new directories, copy all files into them, then delete the old ones.

Condition 3

While a backup or restore is running on the tape backup system, all workstations suffer a significant performance loss. Windows freezes for numerous seconds on all of the WFWG RC2 workstations, preventing logon to the server.

Resolution: Maynstream OS/2 uses any resources it can find, including CPU time, but if you switch to another screen whenever it is accessing the tape drive, workstation performance is restored.