Fault Tolerant Systems May Encounter Problems with Windows NT Service Pack 3

ID: Q171295


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition


SYMPTOMS

With the FirstWatch program, transition failures have been observed that require the use of CLARiiON's Trespass utility. For example, the system may start in Online Primary mode, but any attempt to change into Dual mode fails. The Ha.log file contains errors that occurred while using Trespass. You may also notice that the Scsi.exe, Clarscsi.exe, and Diskcfg.exe programs do not display LUNs (logical unit numbers), which Trespass needs to access.

The CLARiiON Agent Service may report problems in the event log. The following two events messages have been logged:

ERROR: Opening Device: , 1:0:0.
Is the device configured correctly?
After these events, attempting to select the host in ArrayGuide reports the following error:
Could not connect to the chassis, check device name in fw31a's agent configuration file.
ATF failures have also been observed.


CAUSE

This problem is caused by changes in the way Windows NT handles the SCSI LUN enumeration in Service Pack 3.


RESOLUTION

Perform the following steps to resolve this problem:

  1. To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack




  2. For your convenience, the English version of this post-SP3 hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location. However, Microsoft recommends that you install Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 to correct this problem.
    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP3/scsi-fix
    NOTE: Service Pack 3 must be applied to Windows NT 4.0 prior to applying this fix.

  3. WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system- wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

    Install the new Scsiport.sys and go to the following registry key:
    
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Disk\  


  4. Add the following new value to the above registry path to activate the new code:
    
          Value Name = ScanDisconnectedDevices
          Data Type = REG_DWORD
          Data = 1 



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.


MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 4.00 sp3 NG

Keywords : kb3rdparty kbfile NT4SP4Fix kbfix4.00.sp4 kbbug4.00.sp3 NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: April 10, 1999
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