Admin Displays LU as Available When It Really Is Not

• Microsoft SNA Server, versions 2.11 and 2.11 Service Pack 1

SYMPTOMS

If a user closes an emulator session, the SNA Server Admin shows the logical unit (LU) to be "Available" when it should show "SSCP" (in use).

CAUSE

When the emulator unbinds the LU-LU session, SNA Server solicits an UNBIND from the host. The host can send an UNBIND (Bind Forthcoming - Byte1 of BIND = '02'), promising that it will send a BIND in the future. SNA Server responds positively to this, and waits for the BIND. However, the host never sends a BIND as it had promised, so SNA Server marks this LU as on- hold so that no unaccredited user can gain control of the LU in this window of time. The status of the LU in the SNA Server Admin is SSCP. This is normal.

However, if the emulator then terminates the SSCP-LU session by issuing a Close SSCP request, SNA Server Admin then displays the LU as Available and never sends a NOTIFY SLU disabled telling the host to disable the LU. The user then considers the LU to be Available for use, when in fact it is not, because SNA Server is still waiting for the BIND.

This problem is considered a host bug because it does not send the BIND after promising to do so. However, SNA Server should handle this special case.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the hotfix mentioned below. In the hotfix, SNA Server sends a NOTIFY SLU disabled, and displays SSCP in the SNA Server Admin in this special condition.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SNA Server versions 2.11 and 2.11 Service Pack 1. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft SNA Server 2.11 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K