User Guide

Troubleshooting the NetWare Server 109
Server Operating System Administration Guide
103-000148-001
August 30, 2001
Novell Confidential
Manual 99a38 July 17, 2001
Simplifying the System
If there is any danger of losing data, back up the system before you do any
further troubleshooting.
Simplify the system and eliminate as many variables as possible to isolate the
source of the problem.
 Try running the server without the AUTOEXEC.NCF or STARTUP.NCF
file. You can comment out the commands in the .NCF files, or you can
execute SERVER with the -na or -ns option. (To comment out a
command, type REM and a space at the beginning of the command line.)
For an explanation of these load options, see SERVER in the Utilities
Reference.
 Unload all NLM programs. Remove all nonessential products, including
virus scanners and server metering modules, until the server software is
in a basic or default configuration.
 Remove or disconnect peripheral devices.
 Remove extra network boards or LAN adapters.
When you have simplified the server as much as possible, note whether the
problem happens again. To determine whether the operating system is the
source of the problem, restore each component of the system, one at a time,
checking to see whether the addition of the component generates the problem.
Using Troubleshooting Resources
Novell and other vendors provide research tools you can use to resolve
problems.
For example:
 The Novell Knowledgebase (http://support.novell.com/search/
kb_index.htm).
This site contains Technical Information Documents (TIDs), Solutions,
and patches. You can browse by product or search using partial filenames
and wildcards. You might look for the Top 20 Downloads or the most
recently released files.