NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON NOVELL NETWARE TIPS 09/23/04 Today's focus: Problems with running TSAFS
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Readers experiencing problems with NetWare TSAFS * Links related to Novell NetWare Tips * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia NW Special Report: Preparing an Infrastructure for Mobile Applications. Mobility, properly done, increases productivity and decreases operating costs. So get up to date information about building a mobile infrastructure, dealing with security issues, the latest networking options, connectivity alternatives and operational support enhancements. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81438 _______________________________________________________________ DOWNLOAD THE LATEST SPECIAL REPORTS FROM NETWORK WORLD Focused reports on compelling industry topics, Network World Special Reports are available online at Network World Fusion. Network World Special Reports on Mobility, IP Telephony Security, the State of Wireless LANs and more are currently available. Download any or all of our Special Reports at: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81387 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Problems with running TSAFS By Dave Kearns Last week's newsletter "A problem with NLMs not cleaning up after themselves" brought lots of mail from you, dear readers. Most of it was of the "hey, I'm not alone in having this problem" sort and we'll get to those details in a moment. First, though, a correction (or clarification): I said, in passing, that Windows NT 3.5 was the first version of that operating system. In fact, Windows NT 3.1 and Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 were the first versions that came out in July 1993, a year before Version 3.5 was released. Thanks to Rodney Hopkins (and others) for reminding me. I also lamented in that newsletter that the Technical Information Document (TID) covering the memory fragmentation problem had been re-written since I'd first viewed it. I didn't keep a copy of the original, but a number of you did. I found a cached copy of an older version on Google ( <http://shorterlink.com/?KLD5YO> ) but since that isn't permanent, I made a copy which is available at <http://vquill.com/TID10091980cache.htm> for your perusal. Quite a few of you reported that you'd gone around and around with Novell tech support about this issue. Everyone, it seems, has heard the mantra "it's not a problem with TSAFS, it's an operating system limitation." (TSAFS is the backup module for the file system that ships with NetWare 6.5.) The changed TID specifically said that: "TSAFS.NLM does not cause fragmentation problems." Yet a quick look at the earlier version shows that it says: "Try using TSA600.NLM. This configuration does not receive a great dealing of testing internally at Novell, but the vast majority of customers that try this have not found issues. " One reader (Thanks, Dan) wrote: "I have been having issues with my GroupWise server and I was using TSAFS. So I just switched back to using tsa600.nlm on that server. Lo and behold the problems went away." Here's what it all boils down to. Running TSAFS causes the problem. While the memory fragmentation might be attributable to the operating system design, anyone who stops using TSAFS immediately solves their problem. Novell has stated that TSAFS will not be re-written so that it properly uses the resources provided by the operating system. There's a remote possibility, of course, that the operating system itself will be changed - but how likely is that given Novell's insistence that Linux is the operating system of the future and that spending money on the now "commoditized" platform is simply a waste (see the last issue for Jack Messman's comments on this). Those of you who have it should revert to TSA600. Those of you who don't, beg a copy from your NetWare brethren. For an interesting and insightful way to pass an hour or so, go to Google "tsa600" and read what others have to say about this issue. It's not just me and a handful of disgruntled NetWare curmudgeons. _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Dave Kearns Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>. Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management. Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these respective addresses: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books, manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing, technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia NW Special Report: Preparing an Infrastructure for Mobile Applications. Mobility, properly done, increases productivity and decreases operating costs. So get up to date information about building a mobile infrastructure, dealing with security issues, the latest networking options, connectivity alternatives and operational support enhancements. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81437 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Archive of the Novell NetWare Tips newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/netware/index.html Novell news page The Novell news and analysis from Network World Fusion. http://www.nwfusion.com/news/financial/novell.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE GETTING AHEAD OF SARBANES-OXLEY The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which was passed in the wake of accounting scandals at firms such as Enron and WorldCom, is one of the greatest challenges to companies' corporate reporting and compliance efforts. 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