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Conference noted::netware

Title:Novell NetWare
Moderator:NETCAD::STEFANI
Created:Wed Feb 27 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2146
Total number of notes:7285

2144.0. "Volume name dismounted due to drive deactivation" by HGOV08::JOHNNYSZE () Wed May 28 1997 05:09

    
    Just wonder if any one has any idea on the following situation:
    
    The problem is observed while shutting down the NetWare server.
    
         Error messages displayed on the console:
         ----------------------------------------
         VOL2 DISMOUNTED DUE TO DRIVE DEACTIVATION
         VOL1 DISMOUNTED DUE TO DRIVE DEACTIVATION
         SYS  DISMOUNTED DUE TO DRIVE DEACTIVATION
    
         DISMOUNTING VOL2
         DISMOUNTING VOL1
         DISMOUNTING SYS
    
    Hardware Configuration:
    -----------------------
    Prioris ZX 5166/ 128MB RAM/ 32GB HDD
    EISA FDDI Card / Mylex DAC960 Controller
    
         System: Prioris ZX 5166
         Model No: A62WW
         System Part No: TA-AAA62-AI
         AMI BIOS Version: 1.00.07.BG0
    
         Mylex BIOS Version: 1.29
         Mylex Firmware Version: 2.39
         Mylex NetWare Driver Version: DACNET4.DSK, Version 4.02
    
    Hard disk is configured for RAID-5
    BA356 Storage Works is configured to work in spilt bus mode.
    
    Operating Systems:
    ------------------
    Novell NetWare 4.11, DOS 6.22
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Johnny.
    
                                                 
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2144.1SUTRA::16.36.2.201::BatsSpeeding, speeding, I'm always speedingThu May 29 1997 20:2110

	Which is completely normal.
	
	During the shutdown of the OS it will unload the
	disk drivers. Including the Mylex DAC960 driver.
	When this happens, it will cause NetWare to automatically
	dismount those volumes that where sitting on it.

	Pjotrr
2144.2It's an error ...HGOV05::JOHNNYSZEMon Jun 02 1997 00:0441
        
        According to the NetWare manual, it is an error:
        
                2152: Volume name dismounted due to drive deactivation.
                Source: SERVER
                Explanation: The specified volume was dismounted for one of
                             the following reasons:
        
                - A disk driver was unloaded.
                
                - A disk failure occurred.
        
                - The operating system initiated the driver unload.
        
                - The volume is offline and unavailable to users.
        
                Action: Make sure the disk driver is loaded.
                See "Troubleshooting Hardware and Network Problems" in
                Supervising the Network.
        
        
        This problem is oberved only while shutting down the server.
        The findings so far are:
        
                - Disk driver is NOT unloaded.
        
                - A disk failure is NOT occurred.
        
        We checked that the disk driver is loaded.  It is unknown how the
        NetWare work with the Mylex contoller.
        
        The customer is worried that, in case he does an emergency shut
        down, the files in the cache memory won't be written to the hard disk.
        Also, in case of power failure, the same problem may occur.
        
        
        Regards,
        
        Johnny.
    
                
2144.3This is the way the Novell worksSUTRA::16.192.160.196::BatsSpeeding, speeding, I'm always speedingWed Jun 04 1997 08:2425
	As the NetWare manual is saying:                
	
	- The operating system initiated the driver unload.

	This is exactly what happens.
	You shut down the OS, NetWare will start running down processes,
	flush the filecache etc, then unload the drivers, which includes
	your diskdriver as well.
	NetWare does however not dismount the volumes for some sort of
	reason before unloading the disk drivers.
	So again this is expected behaviour.

	If your customer doesn't trust this, won't doesn't he watch the
	console when NetWare comes up again?
	It will namely tell you if certain transactions have not been
	completed (which would point to data still sitting in the file
	cache while the volumes get dismounted)
	He will see that this does not happen.
	
	Otherwise let him call Novell themselves and ask them to
	explain how their rundown procedure works on a system shutdown.

	Pjotrr

2144.4Any further comment ?HGOV08::JOHNNYSZEFri Jun 06 1997 04:3617
    FYI, the problem customer is actually a Novell subsidary.
    
    I really wonder if they will accept that it is an expected behaviour
    that NetWare does however not dismount the volumes for some sort of
    reason before unloading the disk drivers.
    
    They raised the issue to us, which means that they don't believe that
    it is an expected behaviour ??
    
    Any comment ?
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Johnny.
     
    
2144.5So than they'll have to talk this over with Novell LabsSUTRA::16.192.160.196::BatsSpeeding, speeding, I'm always speedingFri Jun 06 1997 06:4715

	Well the interesting thing is that these adapters and their drivers
	are qualified and certified by Novell. (Novell Labs).
	
	Tell them they'll have to talk to their own Novell Labs guys why
	have declared this to be correct.
	(Since I normally only work with Prioris based machines, with obviously
	 Mylex boards installed, I've never seen any other behaviour).
	If they think it should not, they'll have to contact Novell Labs,
	which declares this supported behaviour.
	(Since otherwise nor the Mylex boards, nor the Prioris servers would
	 be Tested and Certified, which they are)

	Pjotrr