SMS: Unable to Install or Verify NetWare Logon Servers

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2

SYMPTOMS

NetWare logon servers in a Systems Management Server site may go inactive or fail to be installed, even though the Systems Management Server service account has adequate permissions, there is plenty of free space on the specified NetWare volume, and network connectivity is available. This will result in inventory from clients not being reported up to the site server, packages not being distributed, and other problems normally associated with account permissions, disk space, or connectivity problems.

CAUSE

The Site Server's Site Configuration Manager (SCMAN) may not be able to correctly enumerate the volume name specified in order to verify or install the Systems Management Server logon server components. This is caused by a problem with the NetWare 3.1x logon server's bindery.

Viewing the Scman.log file from the Site Server reveals that it is able to locate and identify the server, but is unable to enumerate the volume name specified for Systems Management Server installation or verification.

In the following log excerpt, the number of shares (volumes) reported is incorrect (note that the number reported may also be 0):

   Server SERVER1 has 171 shares
   Server SERVER1 status Pending Install role 0x12
   Server SERVER1 has 11 inboxes; 0 domain master inboxes; 0 components

   Checking for share SMS and directory \\SERVER1\VOL1\SMS\logon.srv on
   SERVER1; no share

   CSharedDirInstallItem::Install share=, vol=, dir=SMS\logon.srv,
   subDiraccess=3, share access=2
   Created directory \\SERVER1\VOL1\SMS\logon.srv
   share not found, cannot create without share path

   Event 223 logged with error 183 and object (SERVER1); GetLastError 183;
   SiteConfig Mgr code 7404.
   Cannot create inboxes (Application Control Database, Application Control
   INI, Application Control Script, Client Installation, Despooler,
   Inventory Agent, Inventory Processor, ISV MIF Collection, MS Test,
   Package Command Instruction, Package Source) on server SERVER1

Another way to test for this condition is to browse the volume list of a Netware 3.1x server from an computer running Windows NT Server (for example, the site server) running Gateway (Client) Services for NetWare. If the volume requested by Site Configuration Manager is not visible in the browse list, SCMAN will not be able to create the directories on the volume, even though it has adequate permissions and connectivity and the volume has enough free space. Note that client computers running MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, or Windows 95 do not experience this problem.

WORKAROUND

To correct this problem, run the NetWare server BINDFIX utility. For more information on this utility, consult the documentation provided with your Novell NetWare product.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q126618
   TITLE     : Cannot See All NetWare Volumes from Windows NT