home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Tech Arsenal 1
/
Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO
/
tek-05
/
sectra.exe
/
MANUAL.TXT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-10-26
|
217KB
|
5,395 lines
THOMAS-CONRAD CORPORATION
SECTRA TOKEN RING SERVER FOR DOS
USER'S GUIDE
Version 1.00
October, 1992
Thomas-Conrad Corporation
1908-R Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758
24 Hour Technical Support, (800) 334-4112
(800) 332-8683, (512) 836-1935
In Canada, (800) 654-3822
In Europe, +49 (211) 5048-781
Copyright 1992
All Rights Reserved
DISCLAIMER
THOMAS-CONRAD CORPORATION (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS "TCC")
MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE
CONTENTS OR USE OF THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY TCC SOFTWARE, ALL OF
WHICH IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITH ALL FAULTS, AND WITHOUT WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. IN PARTICULAR, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION OF
THE FOREGOING, TCC MAKES NO WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY
OR FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR WARRANTIES ARISING FROM A
COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE, ALL OF WHICH ARE
SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED BY TCC. Additionally, TCC reserves the
right to revise or make changes to all or any portion of any
publication or any TCC software, at any time, without obligation
to notify any person or entity of such revisions or changes.
TRADEMARKS
The Thomas-Conrad logo is a registered trademark of
Thomas-Conrad Corporation. Sectra is a trademark of Thomas-
Conrad Corporation. NetWare and Novell are registered
trademarks of Novell, Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of
International Business Machine Corporation. Banyan and VINES
are registered trademarks of Banyan Systems Incorporated.
THOMAS-CONRAD CORPORATION
LICENSE AGREEMENT
CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS PRINTED ON THE
DISKETTE ENVELOPE. BY OPENING THIS PACKAGE, YOU INDICATE
YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IN THE EVENT
THAT YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY OF THEM, YOU SHOULD PROMPTLY
RETURN THE PACKAGE UNOPENED, AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE REFUNDED.
Pursuant to this Agreement, you may: (a) use the program on
a single computer; (b) copy the program into any computer-
readable or printed form for back-up or modification purposes
in support of your use of the program on the single computer
(certain programs, however, may include mechanisms to limit
or inhibit copying; they are marked "copy protected");
(c) modify the program and/or merge it into another program
for your use on the single computer, and (d) transfer the
program and license to another party if the other party
agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Any portion of this program merged into another program will
continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. If you transfer the program, you must at the same
time either transfer all copies whether in printed or computer
readable form to the same party or destroy any copies not
transferred, including all modifications and portions of the
program contained or merged into other programs. You must
transferred, including all modifications and portions of the
program contained or merged into other programs. You must
also reproduce and include the copyright notice on any copy,
modification, or portion merged into another program.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page ii
YOU MAY NOT USE, COPY, MODIFY, OR TRANSFER THE PROGRAM, OR
ANY COPY, MODIFICATION, OR MERGED PORTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
YOU MAY NOT USE, COPY, MODIFY, OR TRANSFER THE PROGRAM, OR
ANY COPY, MODIFICATION, OR MERGED PORTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT.
IF YOU TRANSFER POSSESSION OF ANY COPY, MODIFICATION, OR
MERGED PORTION OF THE PROGRAM TO ANOTHER PARTY, YOUR LICENSE
IS AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATED.
TERM
The license is effective until terminated. You may terminate
it at any other time by destroying the program together with
all copies, modifications and merged portions in any form.
It will also terminate upon conditions set forth elsewhere in
this Agreement or if you fail to comply with any term or
condition of this Agreement. You agree upon such termination
to destroy the program together with all copies, modifications,
and merged portions in any form.
LIMITED WARRANTY AND REMEDIES
Thomas-Conrad Corporation (TCC) warrants the diskette(s) on
which the program is furnished to be free from defects in
material and workmanship under normal use for a period of
ninety (90) days from the date of delivery to you as evidenced
by a copy of your receipt. This warranty is limited to you and
is not transferrable.
During the 90-day warranty period, TCC will (1) replace any
diskette not meeting the foregoing warranty and which is
returned to TCC or an Authorized TCC Distributor with a copy
of your receipt; or (2) if TCC or the Authorized Distributor
is unable to deliver a replacement diskette which is free of
defects in materials or workmanship, you may terminate this
Agreement by returning the program and your money will be
refunded.
THE FOREGOING WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY DISKETTE WHICH
HAS BEEN DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENT, MISUSE, ABUSE, OR
AS A RESULT OF SERVICE OR MODIFICATION BY ANYONE OTHER THAN
TCC OR AN AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR.
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH ABOVE, NO OTHER WARRANTIES,
EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THIS
PROGRAM INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
AND TCC EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES NOT STATED HEREIN.
YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE
OF THE PROGRAM SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE.
YOU AND NOT TCC OR AN AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR ASSUME THE
ENTIRE COST OF NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY
Sectra Server for DOS
Page iii
GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE
OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. TCC does not
warrant that the functions contained in the program
will meet your requirements or that the operation of the
program will be uninterrupted or error-free. You assume
responsibility for the selection of the program to achieve
your intended results, and for the installation, use, and
results obtained from the program.
YOUR SOLE REMEDIES AND TCC'S ENTIRE LIABILITY ARE AS SET
FORTH ABOVE. IN NO EVENT WILL TCC BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY
OTHER PERSON FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EXPENSES, LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS,
OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO
USE SUCH PROGRAM.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS,
SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
GENERAL
You may not sublicense, assign, or transfer the license or
the program except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
Any attempt to otherwise sublicense, assign, or transfer any
of the rights, duties, or obligations hereunder is null and
void.
If you have any questions concerning this Agreement,
including warranty service, you should contact Thomas-Conrad
Corporation, 1908-R Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758.
This Agreement will be governed by the Laws of the State of
Texas.
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND
IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU
FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT
OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US WHICH SUPERSEDES ANY PROPOSAL OR
PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN US RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF
THIS AGREEMENT.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page iv
CONTENTS
PREFACE About This Manual
What You Should Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-1
Document Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-1
CHAPTER 1 Product Overview
Features And Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Overview Of Sectra Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
The Client/Server Relationship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
CHAPTER 2 Installation and Configuration
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
LLC Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
ODI Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Unloading Sectra Server for DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Configuring Sectra Server for DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Specify Ring Parameters Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
CHAPTER 3 Overview of Menus and Windows
The Sectra Menus and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Common Status Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Key Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
CHAPTER 4 Selecting Sectra Functions
Selecting a Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Selecting Sectra's Major Functions . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Event Logging and Node Removal . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
CHAPTER 5 Ring Data
Viewing Ring Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
The Error Summary Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
CHAPTER 6 Viewing and Managing Node Data
Viewing a Node's Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Viewing a Node Data for Inactive Nodes. . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Viewing a Node's Error Counters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Add or Modify a Nodes Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
Deleting a Node from Sectra's Database . . . . . . . . . 6-14
CHAPTER 7 Logging and Highlighting Events
Viewing Events as They Occur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Event Log History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Selecting Events to Log and Highlight . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Sectra Server for DOS
Page v
CHAPTER 8 Setting Alarms
Configuring an Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
CHAPTER 9 Troubleshooting and Preventive Maintenance
Types of Token Ring Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
Error Detection and Recovery Protocols . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Active and Standby Monitor Functions . . . . . . . . 9-3
Ring Poll Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Ring Insertion Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Monitor Contention Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Ring Purge Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Beaconing Reconfiguration and Removal . . . . . . . 9-6
Establishing a Fault Domain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Troubleshooting Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
A Node Can't Insert into the Ring . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Performance Degradation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Beaconing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
The Ring Has Recovered from Beaconing . . . . . . . 9-12
The Ring Is Beaconing Continuously . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Preventive Maintenance and Security . . . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Sectra Server for DOS
Page vi
APPENDIX A Sectra Event Descriptions
Event Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Event Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Abort delimiter: {n} from {node_1} to {node_2} . . . A-2
A/C error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2} . . . . A-3
Active monitor error event from {node} . . . . . . . A-3
Active monitor present from {node} . . . . . . . . . A-4
Alarm - {cause_of_alarm} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Beacon frame between {node_1} and {node_2} . . . . . A-5
Burst error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2} . . . A-5
Claim token event from {node} . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Client Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Client Stopped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Event filter set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Event logging started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Event logging stopped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Frame copy error: {n} reported by {node} . . . . . . A-7
Frequency error: {n} reported by {node} . . . . . . A-7
Internal error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2} . A-7
Line error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2} . . . A-8
Lost frame: {n} reported by {node} . . . . . . . . . A-8
Neighbor notification incomplete - last: {node}. . . A-9
New active monitor from {node} . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
{node} blocked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
node counters reset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
{node} inserted into ring ({n} nodes in ring) . . . A-10
{node} left ring ({n} nodes currently in ring) . . . A-10
{node_1} NAUN changed to {node_2} . . . . . . . . . A-10
{node} removed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11
{node} seen for first time ({n} nodes in ring) . . . A-11
Receiver congestion: {n} reported by node . . . . . A-11
Ring configuration change
completed ({n} nodes in ring) . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
Ring configuration changing . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
Ring counters reset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
Ring purge event from {node} . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
Sectra Server for DOS loaded . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
Sectra Server for DOS unloaded . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
Standby monitor present from {n} nodes
- last: {node} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
Token error: {n} reported by {node} . . . . . . . . A-13
Sectra Server for DOS
Page vii
Sectra Server for DOS
Page viii
About This Manual
This manual provides step-by-step instructions for installing
Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS and configuring the program
for your token ring network. The manual also describes how
to use the Sectra program to:
* Monitor the configuration and status of your network
* Log ring events
* Troubleshoot problems
* Control node access to each ring in the network
What You Should Know
This manual is intended for network administrators and others
who need to monitor, troubleshoot, and control access to
networks. To use this guide successfully, you should know
the basic principles of token ring operation, including the
kinds of errors that can occur on token ring networks.
Document Conventions
In this manual, the following symbols are used as part of
command and message formats.
[ ] Characters that appear between brackets indicate user
input and must be entered exactly as shown. You can
use any combination of upper and lowercase letters.
For example "select [No] and press <Enter>".
{ } Words that appear between braces are variables. If
this word in braces is part of a command, replace the
word with information relevant to the task. If a
braced word (or phrase) is in a description of a
message displayed by Sectra, Sectra replaces the
word (or phrase) with information relevant to the
message. For example, the phrase "{n} abort delimiters
generated by {node_1}" in the manual could be
displayed in the program "8 abort delimiters
generated by 0001c80600c5".
< > Angle brackets enclose specified keys, for
example <Enter>.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page P-1
Sectra Server for DOS
Page P-2
CHAPTER ONE
Product Overview
This chapter, which provides an overview of Sectra Server
for DOS, contains two sections:
* Features and Benefits
* Overview of Sectra Operations
Features and Benefits
Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS (hereafter called "Sectra Server
for DOS") is a network management program that allows you to
monitor, troubleshoot and control node access on IEEE 802.5
token ring networks. Sectra Server for DOS resides on a
workstation and can monitor and control up to two rings that
have an adapter in the workstation.
Sectra Server for DOS works with NetWare, Banyan VINES, LAN
Manager, IBM PC Lan, and other IEEE 802.5 compliant LAN
operating systems to provide a comprehensive network
management system.
Sectra Server for DOS enables you to:
* Monitor the token ring configuration. Sectra Server
for DOS maintains a database of all nodes and rings on
the network. Sectra Server also allows you to specify
names for rings and nodes, as well as other significant
information. In addition, Sectra Server allows you to
display nodes that are on the network.
* Monitor network errors and events in real time. From
Sectra, you can view token ring errors and other
significant network events as they occur.
* Receive automatic notification of token ring error
conditions. Sectra Server can automatically make a log
entry when a specified type of error or event occurs.
Sectra Server can also send an alarm notice to a Sectra
client operating on the network.
* Review recent network history. Sectra Server for DOS
maintains a log of recent token ring events that you can
examine. A separate log is maintained for each ring in
the workstation. You can specify the types of events
that are logged.
* Isolate token ring faults. Sectra Server for DOS
maintains error counters for each node and compiles
error information for each ring in the network. This
information is essential for identifying and
troubleshooting network problems and for isolating
errors between nodes.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 1-1
* Control node access to the network. Sectra Server
for DOS allows you to specify the days of the week
and the hours of the day during which a node is
allowed on a ring, thereby improving network security.
You can access Sectra Server for DOS directly from the
workstation, or from a Sectra client located on the network.
Using a LAN utility such as Lan Assist allows remote access
to Sectra Server for DOS, thereby enabling you to monitor the
network from an off-site location.
Overview of Sectra Server for DOS Operations
Sectra Server for DOS reads certain Medium Access Control
(MAC) frames from each ring in the network. From these
frames, Sectra Server for DOS extracts information about the
configuration of rings, ring errors, and information about
other significant events. After extracting pertinent
information from MAC frames, Sectra Server for DOS updates
its error counters. Sectra Server for DOS tracks errors for
each node and compiles errors for each ring in the network.
Sectra Server for DOS also updates the configuration
information it maintains for each ring and node. This
information includes such items as a node's address and
the number of nodes inserted into a ring.
Sectra Server for DOS maintains node information in such a
way that the order of nodes on the ring is preserved in the
database. This allows you to isolate errors between nodes.
Sectra Server for DOS automatically maintains error and
configuration information about nodes and rings in the
network. You can supply additional node information (such
as the physical location of the node) that Sectra Server
for DOS will store in its database.
In addition to extracting error information from MAC frames,
Sectra Server for DOS extracts information about other
significant events that occur on the network. If you wish,
Sectra Server for DOS can log these events on a ring-by-ring
basis. You can specify that Sectra Server for DOS log only
certain types of events (configuration events, error
events, etc.).
You can tell Sectra Server for DOS to post an alarm to the
event log when certain error conditions occur on a ring.
Sectra Server for DOS can thus notify you of error conditions
that you consider important. When Sectra Server for DOS
detects an error condition that you have specified to trigger
an alarm, an active Sectra client on the network can display
an alarm message.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 1-2
The Client/Server Relationship
The Sectra Token Ring Management System is a network
management program that allows you to monitor and control
IEEE 802.5 token ring networks. The Sectra Token Ring
Management System is made up of three components:
* The Sectra Token Ring Server for NetWare
* The Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS
* The Sectra Token Ring Client for Windows
The Sectra Server for NetWare is a NetWare Loadable Module
(NLM), which means that you can load and run Sectra under
Novell's Netware 386 network operating system (NOS).
Because the Sectra server resides on the network server, it
can monitor and control access to any ring that has a
Thomas-Conrad token ring adapter in the server. Sectra thus
allows you to monitor and control access to an entire token
ring network from a single vantage point. Since the Sectra
server module runs on a network server, it is accessible even
when the rest of the network is down.
The Sectra Server for DOS is a DOS executable program that
has the same functions and features as the Sectra server for
NetWare. The Sectra server for DOS is designed to run on a
wide variety of hardware. It can monitor and control access
on up to two rings that have an adapter in the workstation.
It does not require a Thomas-Conrad token ring card to operate
and will work with most popular network operating systems.
The Sectra Token Ring Server for NetWare or Sectra Token Ring
Server for DOS collect data; the Sectra Client displays the
data. Separating data collection and data presentation
maximizes responsiveness for both the network administrator
and the network users.
The Sectra Server for Netware and the Sectra Server for DOS
can monitor and control access to rings that they are
attached to. The Sectra Server for NetWare, running on the
network server, can monitor up to eight rings that have a
Thomas-Conrad adapter in the server. The Sectra Server for
DOS, running in a workstation, can monitor up to two rings
in the workstation using any vendor's token ring adapters.
In addition to collecting data and controlling ring access
locally, both the Sectra server for NetWare and the Sectra
Server for DOS act as agents for the Sectra client.
The Sectra Client for Windows displays the data collected by
agents on the network (either the Sectra Server for NetWare or
the Sectra Server for DOS). You can have many clients
displaying data from one server, or conversely, one client
displaying data from many different servers monitoring many
different rings.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 1-3
The Sectra client also allows any user with appropriate
privileges to monitor and control access to any ring on the
network with a Sectra server. You can use the Sectra client
for Windows from any network workstation that runs Microsoft
Windows, even if the workstation is on Ethernet, ARCNET, or
TCNS (Thomas-Conrad Networking System).
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 1-4
CHAPTER TWO
Installation and Configuration
This chapter describes how to install Sectra Server for DOS
and how to configure the program for your particular network.
This chapter contains the following sections:
* Installing LLC drivers
* Installing ODI drivers supporting promiscuous mode
* Unloading Sectra Server for DOS
* Configuring Sectra Server for DOS
* Specifying Ring Parameters
System Requirements
You must have the following hardware to run Sectra Server
for DOS:
* An IBM PC compatible 286 or above
* A minimum of 1Mbyte of RAM
* An 80-column display
* A hard drive
* One token ring adapter for each ring to be monitored.
* DOS 3.0 or higher or compatible operating system
* IPX for communications to a Sectra Client
For continuous monitoring, Sectra Server for DOS requires a
dedicated workstation. For troubleshooting or performance
checking, you can use any workstation on the ring that meets
the system requirements.
LLC Driver Installation
To install and configure Sectra for DOS using an adapter with
LLC support, take the following steps:
1 Make sure that the workstation you are going to
use meets the requirements listed above.
2 Create a subdirectory for the program files. For
example you could create a directory and name it
SECTRATR or another name that you want.
3 Copy the contents of the program disk to the
subdirectory that you created in step 2. You can use
the DOS copy command with the asterisk (*) to copy all
of the files. For example:
[COPY A:\*.* C:\{Subdirectory Name}]
4 Load the Sectra for DOS initialization module by typing
SECTLLC.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-1
5 Load IPX if you desire client communications
6 Start Sectra for DOS by typing SECTRA from the SECTRATR
subdirectory (or the subdirectory that you created.)
This starts a batch file that will load BTRIEVE and start
the Sectra for DOS program. When you exit the program
normally, this batch file will unload BTREIVE.
NOTE
The Sectra for DOS initialization module, SECTLLC, can also be
loaded as a device driver. To load SECTLLC as a device driver,
insert the following statement in the your CONFIG.SYS file:
DEVICE=SECTLLC.EXE
Make sure to place this statement after any statements in the
CONFIG.SYS file that loads drivers for your adapter.
The following shows examples of CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT
files for Thomas-Conrad and IBM token ring adapters. These are
shown as samples, your file may have more statements for
other devices.
CONFIG.SYS (Thomas-Conrad)
FILES=40
BUFFERS=30
DEVICE=DXMA0MOD.SYS
DEVICE=TCCAHI.SYS
DEVICE=TCTRLOAD.SYS
DEVICE=TCTRCPI.SYS
CONFIG.SYS (IBM)
FILES=40
BUFFERS=30
DEVICE=DXMA0MOD.SYS
DEVICE=DXMC0MOD.SYS
AUTOEXEC.BAT (Thomas-Conrad or IBM)
PATH = C:\, C:\DOS ...
SECTRATR\SECTLLC
IPX (If Client communications are required)
(A LAN Support Driver required. You cannot use
a native token ring driver (STOKEN))
NETX (If a network connection is required)
CD \SECTRATR
SECTRA
NOTE
SECTLLC must be loaded before either LANSUP.COM or
IPX.COM depending on which driver is being used.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-2
ODI Driver Installation
To install and configure Sectra for DOS using a Thomas-Conrad
adapter with a Thomas-Conrad ODI driver or other
manufacturers adapter with an ODI driver that supports
promiscuous mode, take the following steps:
1 Make sure that the workstation you are going to
use meets the requirements listed on page 2-1.
2 Create a subdirectory for the program files. For
example you could create a directory and name it
SECTRATR or another name that you want.
3 Copy the contents of the program disk to the
subdirectory that you created in step 2. You can use
the DOS copy command with the asterisk (*) to copy all
of the files. For example:
[COPY A:\*.* C:\{Subdirectory Name}]
4 Place the following statements in your NET.CFG file:
LINK DRIVER TCTOKSH
PORT ?
INT ?
DMA
REINSERT (Optional - See note below)
any other statements
NOTE
With the Thomas-Conrad driver TCTOKSH, when the node is
blocked, it will not reinsert itself into the ring. This
conforms with the IEEE 802.5 specification. If the optional
statement REINSERT is placed in the LINK section of the
NET.CFG file, when the node is blocked, it can immediately
reinsert it self. It is recommended that the REINSERT
parameter be used when running Sectra for DOS. If the
REINSERT parameter is not used and the MLID on the Sectra
for DOS workstation receives the remove MAC frame, Sectra for
DOS will terminate abnormally and the database will be
corrupted.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-3
5 To start Sectra Server for DOS, you can execute these
commands in this order or place them in your STARTUP or
AUTOEXEC file
LSL (Provided with NetWare)
MLID (TCTOKSH for Thomas-Conrad adapters)
MLID (Optional - for second adapter)
IPXODI (If client communications are required)
NETX (If a network connection is required)
SECTODI
CD SECTRATR
SECTRA
To load the driver to support two adapter cards, repeat the
MLID (TCTOKSH) statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If
loading Sectra Server for DOS manually, repeat the command.
The following shows examples of NET.CFG and AUTOEXEC.BAT
files for Thomas-Conrad token ring adapters. These are shown
as samples, your file may have more statements for other devices.
NET.CFG (Thomas-Conrad)
LINK DRIVER TCTOKSH (First Adapter)
PORT 1A20
DMA 5
INT 2
LINK DRIVER TCTOKSH (Optional - for second adapter)
PORT 2A20
DMA 6
INT 3
AUTOEXEC.BAT
LSL
MLID (TCTOKSH for Thomas-Conrad adapters)
MLID (Optional - for second adapter)
IPXODI (If Client communications are required)
NETX (If a network connection is required)
SECTODI
SECTRA
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-4
Once Sectra Server for DOS is loaded, it displays the
Select Ring menu, which lists the address of each ring's
network adapter in the workstation.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ Select Ring ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │ 0001c8720251 Normal ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │ Secondary Card Not Available ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│ F1=Press for Help in any Sectra Window │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
NOTE
If both rings displayed in the Select Ring menu
display the "Card Not Available" message, you need
to verify that (1) you are using the proper driver
and version for the token ring adapter that is
installed in the workstation, and (2) there is at
least one node attached to each ring in addition to
the workstation running Sectra Server for DOS.
If problems persist, contact Thomas-Conrad
technical services at 800-334-4112.
Unloading Sectra Server for DOS
Sectra Server for DOS is designed to run continuously on
your workstation in order to provide constant network
monitoring and immediate troubleshooting capabilities.
If you wish to unload Sectra Server for DOS press <ESC>
at the Select Ring menu. You will be asked for a
confirmation before Sectra Server for DOS is unloaded.
If Sectra for DOS is not unloaded in this in this manner,
(ie if the computer is turned off or reset) the data files
will be damaged. If the data files are damaged, Sectra
will rebuild these files the next time Sectra for DOS is
loaded.
SECTODI, if used, is unloaded by typing SECTODI /U.
SECTLLC, if loaded from the command line, is unloaded
by typing SECTLLC /U. If SECTLLC is loaded as a device
driver (loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file), it cannot be
removed using the /U switch.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-4
Configuring Sectra Server for DOS
After installing Sectra Server for DOS, you need to perform
the configuration sequence for each ring that has an adapter
in the workstation.
If you have just installed Sectra Server for DOS, the Select
Ring menu is now displayed on the workstation monitor. If
you are reconfiguring Sectra Server for DOS, press <Esc>
until the Select Ring menu is displayed. Configure Sectra
Server for DOS for the selected ring as follows:
1 Use the up and down arrow keys to select the desired
ring from the Select Ring menu. If you have just
installed Sectra Server for DOS, each ring is
identified as either Primary or Secondary server.
When you select a ring, Sectra Server for DOS
displays the View/Manage Ring menu.
Select the Specify Ring Parameters option to display
the Specify Ring Parameters window.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Specify Ring Parameters Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ Adapter Address: 0001c8720251 Allow Unauthorized Nodes On Ring: Yes ║│
│║ Ring Name: Let Sectra Remove Nodes: No ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
2 Enter a name for the ring in the Ring Name field.
Sectra Server for DOS will use this name in its menus
to identify the ring. The ring name can contain any
printable ASCII character and can be up to 12
characters long.
3 Specify whether unauthorized nodes should be allowed
on the ring.
If you enter No, Sectra Server for DOS will provide ring
access only to those nodes that you have authorized to
be on the ring. (See "Viewing and Managing Node Data"
for instructions on how to authorize nodes.) To gain
access to the ring, authorized nodes must also be
allowed on the ring at that particular time.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-5
4 Specify whether node blocking should be on.
If you enter Yes, Sectra Server for DOS denies ring
access to unauthorized nodes, authorized nodes not
allowed on the ring at that particular time, and nodes
that you have blocked from the ring. (See "Viewing
and Managing Node Data" for instructions on how to
block nodes from the ring.)
If you enter No, Sectra Server for DOS will allow any
node to access the ring, even if the node is
unauthorized, not allowed on the ring at that time,
or blocked.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ CAUTION ║
║ Before turning on node blocking, be sure to first ║
║ authorize the appropriate nodes. (Failure to do so ║
║ will remove all nodes except the Sectra Server for ║
║ DOS workstation from the ring.) Be very careful ║
║ not to block any file servers on the rings that are ║
║ attached to the workstation. The adapters in the ║
║ file server will look just like any other adapter, ║
║ and Sectra Server for DOS can and will block these ║
║ adapters if you are not careful. ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
5 You have now specified all the configuration
information needed for the ring. Press <Esc> to leave
this menu and go back to the View/Manage Ring menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-6
6 Before you exit the Specify Ring Parameters window,
Sectra Server for DOS displays the following message:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Specify Ring Parameters Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ Adapter Address: 0001c8720251 Allow Unauthorized Nodes On Ring: Yes ║│
│║ Ring Name: Tech Pubs Let Sectra Remove Nodes: No ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╔══════════════════════════════════╗▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ Save Changes to Ring Parameters? ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╠══════════════════════════════════╣▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │No ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │Yes ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╚══════════════════════════════════╝▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Press <Enter> to save your changes, or select No to
ignore changes and return to the View/Manage Ring menu.
7 Sectra Server for DOS is set with event logging on.
Pressing <F4> at the View/Manage Ring menu toggles
the event log for a selected ring on and off.
Specify Ring Parameters Window
Fields
Adapter The address of the ring's adapter in the
Address: workstation. You cannot edit this field; it
is a display-only field.
Ring Name: Specifies the name by which Sectra Server for
DOS identifies the ring in its menus. The ring
name can contain any printable ASCII character
and can be up to 12 characters long.
Allow Specifies whether unauthorized nodes are
Unauthorized allowed on the ring. You can authorize a
Nodes on node to have access to a ring when either of
Ring: the Node Data windows is displayed (see
Chapter 6, Viewing and Managing Node Data for
more information.)
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-7
Let Sectra Specifies whether Sectra Server for DOS will
Remove deny ring access to nodes that shouldn't be on
Nodes: the ring (unauthorized nodes, authorized nodes
not allowed on the ring at that particular time,
and nodes that you have blocked from the ring).
Keys
<Esc> Exits the window and returns to View/Manage Ring
menu. If you have made any changes, Sectra
Server for DOS will ask you to confirm the
changes.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 2-8
CHAPTER THREE
Overview of Menus and Windows
This chapter contains the following sections:
* The Sectra Server for DOS Menus and Windows
* Display Conventions
* Common Status Information
* Cursor Movement and Editing Keys
The Sectra Server for DOS Menus and Windows
The following figure shows the Sectra Server for DOS system
of menus and windows. Menus provide a list of choices.
Windows display data or provide data entry fields in which
you can supply information to Sectra Server for DOS. The
diagram shows how you can progress through the menus and
windows. Menus and windows at higher levels provide access
to menus and windows at lower levels.
The Select Ring menu is the entrance to the Sectra Server
for DOS system of menus and windows. Sectra Server for DOS
functions are always performed on a single ring. Before you
select a function, you must select a ring on which to perform
the function.
Selecting a ring displays the View/Manage Ring menu for that
ring. From the View/Manage Ring menu, you can select various
Sectra Server for DOS functions. Selecting a function
displays the menu or window for that function or group of
functions.
┌─────────────┐
│ Select Ring │
┌───────┐ │ Menu │
│Toggle │ └──────┬──────┘
│Event │<F4> │ Select a Ring
│Logging├──────┐ │
View Event Log └───────┘ ┌─┴───┴─────┐ Specify Ring Parameters
┌────────────────────────────┤ ├──────────────────────────┐
│ │ View │ Select Events │
│ Define Alarms │ Manage │ to Highlight │
│ ┌──────────────────┤ Ring ├───────────────┐ │
│ │ │ Data │ Select Events│ │
│ │ View Nodes │ │ to Log │ │
│ │ ┌───────┤ ├─────┐ │ │
│ │ │ └──┬─────┬──┘ │ │ │
│ │ │ View│ │View │ │ │
│ │ │ Error│ │Ring │ │ │
│ │ │ Summary│ │Data │ │ │
┌───┴───┐┌────┴─────┐┌───┴────┐┌────┴──┐┌─┴────┐┌──┴───┐┌────┴────┐┌────┴────┐
│Event ││ Alarm ││Inserted││ Error ││ Ring ││Select││ Select ││ Specify │
│ Log ││Definition││ Node ││Summary││ Data ││Events││ Events ││ Ring │
│Monitor││ Window ││ Data ││Window ││Window││To Log││ to ││Parameter│
│Window ││ ││ Window ││ ││ ││Window││Highlight││ Window │
└───────┘└──────────┘└────────┘└───────┘└──────┘└──────┘└─────────┘└─────────┘
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 3-1
The following table provides a brief description of each menu
and window displayed by Sectra Server for DOS.
╔════════════════════╤══════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Menu/Window │ Function ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Select Ring Menu │ Select a ring on which to perform a ║
║ │ Sectra Server for DOS function. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ View/Manage Ring │ Select a Sectra Server for DOS ║
║ Menu │ function or group functions on the ║
║ │ selected ring. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Error Summary │ Displays accumulated error counts ║
║ Window │ for each node on the ring. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Node Data Windows │ Display configuration and error ║
║ for Inserted Nodes │ information for a ring's nodes. ║
║ and Inactive Nodes │ ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Node Error │ Displays error counters for a ║
║ Counters Window │ selected node. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Add Node Window │ Provides fields for adding a new ║
║ │ node to the Sectra Server for DOS ║
║ │ database. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Modify Node Data │ Provides fields for modifying node ║
║ Window │ data already in the Sectra Server ║
║ │ for DOS database. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Event Log Monitor, │ The Event Log Monitor window ║
║ Event Log History │ displays ring events as they occur. ║
║ Windows │ The Event Log History window ║
║ │ displays events in the ring's event ║
║ │ log. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Ring Data Window │ Displays configuration and error ║
║ │ information for a ring. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Select Events to │ Specify the events Sectra Server for ║
║ Highlights Menu │ DOS highlights in the event log. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Select Events to │ Specify the events Sectra Server for ║
║ Log Menu │ DOS logs for a ring. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Alarm Definition │ Specify the events that trigger a ║
║ Menu │ Sectra Server for DOS alarm. ║
╟────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Specify Ring │ Configure Sectra Server for DOS for ║
║ Parameters Menu │ each ring in the network. ║ ║
╚════════════════════╧══════════════════════════════════════╝
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 3-2
Common Status Information
Each menu and window displayed by Sectra Server for DOS has
a header similar to this one:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
This header displays the Sectra Server for DOS program, date
and time. The date and time is the current date and time.
A status window (located below the header in many of the
Sectra Server for DOS menus and windows) displays the
following information:
* The ring name or the address of the ring's adapter in
the network server (if you have not supplied a ring
name to Sectra Server for DOS)
* The title of the menu or window currently displayed
* The ring's state
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Ring Name Menu/Window Name Ring State ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
A ring can be in one of six states:
* Uninitialized - Sectra Server for DOS has not yet
started collecting data for the ring. This is a
temporary condition.
* Normal - The ring is operating normally--that is, not
continuously transmitting beacon frames.
* Beaconing - The ring is transmitting beacon frames,
indicating a hard error (an error that prevents normal
ring operation).
* Re-organizing - Due to changes on the ring, Sectra
Server for DOS is temporarily reorganizing its
database for the ring.
* Card not Available - The adapter or driver is not
installed or cannot be accessed by Sectra Server
for DOS.
* Adapter Error - The adapter has had an error condition
and is attempting to correct it. This is a temporary
condition. If the adapter is not able to correct the
problem, this error will change to Card not Available.
The adapter is not collecting data while in this state.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 3-3
Key Descriptions
This section describes the cursor-movement and editing keys
available in menus and windows. Except for minor
differences in the way alphanumeric characters are treated,
cursor movement keys and editing keys are used in the same
way as for Novell applications.
Keys Defined for All Menus And Windows
<F1> Displays help information for the current menu
or window. Sectra Server for DOS displays a
help screen for five (5) minutes before
returning to the program window. Pressing
the escape key will also exit you from a
help screen.
Help Screen Keys
<Esc> Exits the help screen and displays the menu
or window from which help was requested.
<PgUp> Displays the previous page of the help screen.
<PgDn> Displays the next page of the help screen.
<Home> Displays the first page of the help screen.
<End> Displays the last page of the help screen.
Menu Keys
<Esc> Displays the previous menu or window.
<up arrow> Moves cursor up or down one line,
<down arrow> respectively.
<PgUp> Moves cursor to the first list item on the
current page.
<PgDn> Moves cursor to the last list item on the
current page.
<character> Selects the first menu choice starting with that
character.
Keys for Data Entry Windows
<up arrow> Moves cursor up or down one line,
<down arrow> respectively.
<PgUp> Moves cursor to the first item in the window.
<PgDn> Moves cursor to the last item in the window.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 3-4
<Enter> Enters edit mode for a field. The cursor
blinks on the first character in the field.
Data entry is by default in typeover mode.
The <Ins> key toggles between insert and
typeover.
Pressing <Enter> a second time moves the
cursor to the next field.
<Esc> While in edit mode, resets the field to its
previous value (before edits were made) and
repositions the cursor at the beginning of
the field.
Pressing <Esc> after you are through editing
requests confirmation of any changes you made
and exits to the previous menu.
<Backspace> Deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
<left arrow> Moves the cursor to the left or right one
<right arrow> character, respectively, without deleting a
character.
<Del> Deletes the character the cursor is on.
<character> Enters the character at the cursor position.
Characters are entered in write-over mode: a
new character writes over an existing character.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 3-5
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 3-6
CHAPTER FOUR
Selecting Sectra Server for DOS Functions
This chapter, which describes how to select the Sectra
Server for DOS major functions, contains the following
sections:
* Selecting a Ring
* Selecting the Sectra Server for DOS Major Functions
* How to turn Node Blocking On and Off
Selecting a Ring
Before you perform any Sectra Server for DOS function, you
must select a ring. Select the ring from the Select Ring
menu, which Sectra Server for DOS displays immediately
after being installed and loaded. Thereafter, you can
access the Select Ring menu from the View/Manage Ring
menu by pressing <Esc>.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ Select Ring ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │ Primary Normal ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │ Secondary Card Not Available ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│ F1=Press for Help in any Sectra Window │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
To select a Ring, move the cursor to the appropriate
position in the list of rings on the left side of the menu.
This highlights the ring. Sectra Server for DOS displays the
address of the ring's adapter in the workstation unless you
supplied a ring name using the Specify Ring Parameters window.
Fields
Ring Name The ring name (if you have supplied a name to
Sectra Server for DOS) or the address of the
ring's adapter in the workstation.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-1
Ring State The present ring status. A ring can be in one
of six states:
Uninitialized - Sectra Server for DOS has not yet
started collecting data for the ring.
Normal - The ring is operating normally--that
is, only transmitting AMP and SMP frames.
Beaconing - The ring is transmitting beacon
frames, indicating a hard error (an error that
prevents normal ring operation).
Re-organizing - Due to changes on the ring,
Sectra Server for DOS is temporarily reorganizing
its database for the ring.
Card not Available - The adapter or driver is
not installed or cannot be accessed by Sectra
Server for DOS.
Adapter Error - The adapter has had an error
condition and is attempting to correct it.
This is a temporary condition. If the adapter
is not able to correct the problem, this error
will change to Card not Available. The adapter
is not collecting data while in this state.
Keys
<Enter> If Sectra Server for DOS has not yet been
configured for the selected ring, the Specify
Ring Parameters menu (which is used to
configure Sectra Server for DOS) is displayed.
If Sectra Server for DOS has been configured
for the ring, the View/Manage Ring menu is
displayed.
<ESC> Unload Sectra Server for DOS
<F1> Help
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-2
Selecting the Sectra Server for DOS Major Functions
Selecting a ring displays the View/Manage Ring menu for that
ring.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││ Tech Pubs Normal ││
│├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│
││ Adapter Address: 0001c8720251 Let Sectra Remove Nodes: No ││
││ Event Logging: Yes Beacon Frames: 0 ││
││ Inserted Nodes: 8 Isolating Errors: 0 ││
││ Total Nodes: 8 Non-isolating Errors: 0 ││
││ Unauthorized Nodes: 7 Counters Reset: -- Never -- ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╔═════════════════════════════════╗▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ View/Manage Ring ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╠═════════════════════════════════╣▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │View Error Summary ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │View Nodes ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │View Event Log ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │View Ring Data ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │Select Events to Highlight ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │Select Events to Log ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │Define Alarms ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ │Specify Ring Parameters ║▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╚═════════════════════════════════╝▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│ F4=Stop Event Logging F8=Let Sectra Remove Nodes │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
You can access most Sectra Server for DOS menus and windows
from the View/Manage Ring menu. In addition, the View/Manage
Ring menu displays a summary of error and configuration
information for the ring.
To display the View/Manage Ring menu, select a ring (for
which Sectra Server for DOS has been configured) from the
Select Ring menu, or press <Esc> when displaying a menu or
window that is accessed from the View/Manage Ring menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-3
Event Logging and Node Removal
From the View/Manage Ring menu, you can use <F4> to toggle
event logging on and off, and <F8> to toggle node removal
on and off.
When node removal is on, Sectra Server for DOS denies access to:
* unauthorized nodes
* nodes not allowed to access the ring at the
current time
* nodes that you have blocked from the ring
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ CAUTION ║
║ Before turning on node blocking, be sure to first ║
║ authorize the appropriate nodes. (Failure to do so ║
║ will remove all nodes except the Sectra Server for ║
║ DOS workstation from the ring.) Be very careful ║
║ not to block any file server on the rings that are ║
║ in the workstation. The adapters in the file ║
║ server will look just like any other adapter, and ║
║ Sectra Server for DOS can and will block these ║
║ adapters if you are not careful. ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
When node removal is turned off, any node can access the
ring, including unauthorized nodes and nodes that are
normally not allowed access to the ring at the current time.
In other words, turning off node removal allows ring access
to any node at any time.
Fields
Ring Status Window
Adapter The address of the selected ring's adapter
Address: in the workstation.
Event Indicates whether Sectra Server for DOS is
Logging: enabled to log events for the selected ring.
Inserted The number of nodes currently inserted into
Nodes: the selected ring.
Total Nodes: The total number of nodes in the selected ring,
regardless of whether they are inserted into
the ring.
Unauthorized: The number of unauthorized nodes in the selected
ring, regardless of whether they are inserted
into the ring.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-4
Let Sectra Indicates whether Sectra Server for DOS denies
Remove Nodes: ring access to the following nodes:
unauthorized nodes, authorized nodes not
allowed on the ring at that particular time,
and nodes that you have blocked from the ring.
Beacon The number of beacon frames that have been
Frames: transmitted on the selected ring since Sectra
Server for DOS was last loaded or the ring
counters were reset. A beacon frame indicates
that a hard error has occurred on the ring.
A hard error totally disrupts the transmission
of user data on the ring.
Isolating The number of isolating errors that have
Errors: occurred on the selected ring since Sectra
Server for DOS was last loaded or the ring
counters were reset. An isolating error is a
soft error that can be isolated to a specific
area of the ring. Soft errors can disrupt
token ring operation, thus degrading
performance. However, soft errors do not
totally disable the ring, as hard errors do.
Non- The number of non-isolating errors that have
Isolating occurred on the selected ring since Sectra
Errors: Server for DOS was last loaded or the ring
counters were reset. A non-isolating error
is a soft error that cannot be isolated to a
specific area of the ring.
Counters The date and time when the Sectra Server for
Reset: DOS error counters for the selected ring were
last reset.
View/Manage Ring Menu
View Error Displays the Error Summary window for the
Summary: selected ring.
View Nodes: Displays the Node Data Window for Inserted
Nodes for the selected ring.
View Event Displays the Event Log Monitor window for the
Log: selected ring. If event logging was never
turned on for the ring, this menu choice is
unavailable.
View Ring Displays the Ring Data Window for
Data: the selected ring.
Select Events Displays the Select Events to Highlight
to Highlight: window for the selected ring.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-5
Select Events Displays the Select Events to Log window
to Log: for the selected ring.
Define Displays the Alarm Definition window for the
Alarms: selected ring.
Specify Ring Displays the Specify Ring Parameters window
Parameters: for the selected ring.
Keys
<Esc> Exits to the Select Ring menu.
<F1> Help
<F4> If event logging is turned off and if unknown
nodes are allowed on the ring, pressing <F4>
turns on event logging.
When event logging is turned on, pressing
<F4> displays the confirmation message:
╔══════════════════════╗
║ Stop Logging Events? ║
╠══════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚══════════════════════╝
Select No (the default answer) and press
<Enter> if you want to continue logging events
for the ring. Select Yes and press <Enter> to
stop event logging.
<F8> When node removal is turned off, pressing
<F8> displays the confirmation message:
╔══════════════════════════╗
║ Let Sectra Remove Nodes? ║
╠══════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚══════════════════════════╝
Select No (the default answer) and press
<Enter> to leave node removal turned off.
Select Yes and press <Enter> to turn on node
removal.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-6
When node removal is turned on, pressing
<F8> displays the confirmation message:
╔══════════════════════════════════╗
║ Stop Sectra from Removing Nodes? ║
╠══════════════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚══════════════════════════════════╝
Select No (the default answer) and press
<Enter> to leave node removal turned on.
Select Yes and press <Enter> to turn off
node removal.
When node removal is turned on, Sectra Server
for DOS denies ring access to unauthorized
nodes (nodes that you have not authorized
to be inserted into the ring), authorized
nodes not allowed to access the ring at the
current time, and nodes that you have blocked
from the ring.
When node removal is turned off, any node
can access the ring.
<character> Selects the first menu choice starting with that
character.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-7
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 4-8
CHAPTER FIVE
Ring Data
This chapter, which describes how to view the data that
Sectra Server for DOS maintains for a ring, contains the
following sections:
* Viewing Ring Data
* The Error Summary Window
Viewing Ring Data
The Ring Data window displays configuration information and
error summary information about the ring. To display the Ring
Data window, select View Ring Data from the View/Manage Ring
menu.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││ Tech Pubs Ring Data Normal ││
│├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│
││ Adapter Address: 0001c8720251 ││
││ ││
││ Errors Nodes ││
││ Beacon Frames: 0 Allow Unauthorized Nodes: Yes ││
││ Isolating Errors: 0 Let Sectra Remove Nodes: No ││
││ Non-isolating Errors: 0 Inserted Nodes: 8 ││
││ Counters Reset: -- Never -- Authorized Nodes: 1 ││
││ ││
││ Event Log ││
││ Event Logging: Yes ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
│ F10=Reset Counters │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Fields
Adapter The address of the ring's adapter in
Address: the workstation.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 5-1
Errors
Beacon The number of beacon frames that have been
Frames: transmitted on the selected ring since Sectra
Server for DOS was last loaded or the ring
counters were reset. A beacon frame indicates
that a hard error has occurred on the ring.
A hard error totally disrupts the transmission
of user data on the ring.
Isolating The number of isolating errors that have
Errors: occurred on the selected ring since Sectra
Server for DOS was last loaded or the ring
counters were reset. An isolating error is
a soft error that can be isolated to a specific
area of the ring. Soft errors can disrupt
token ring operation, thus degrading
performance. However, soft errors do not
totally disable the ring, as do hard errors.
Non- The number of non-isolating errors that have
Isolating occurred on the selected ring since Sectra
Errors: Server for DOS was last loaded or the ring
counters were reset. A non-isolating error
is a soft error that cannot be isolated to
a specific area of the ring.
Counters The date and time when the error counters for
Reset: the ring were last reset.
Nodes
Allow Indicates whether unauthorized nodes are
Unauthorized allowed on the selected ring. You can
Nodes: authorize a node to have access to a ring
when either of the Node Data windows is
displayed (see Chapter 6 for more
information).
Let Sectra Indicates whether Sectra Server for DOS denies
Remove Nodes: unauthorized nodes, authorized nodes not
allowed on the ring at that particular time, and
nodes that you have blocked from the ring.
Inserted The number of nodes currently inserted into
Nodes: the ring.
Authorized The number of authorized nodes in the ring.
Nodes:
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 5-2
Keys
<F10> Resets the error counters that Sectra Server
for DOS maintains for the ring. Does not
reset the node error counters for the ring's
nodes.
<Esc> Exits to the View/Manage Ring menu.
<F1> Help
The Error Summary Window
The Error Summary window displays accumulated error counts
for each node currently on the ring. Error counts are
provided for three categories of errors: beacon frames,
isolating errors, and non-isolating errors. (See Chapter 9
for a description of these errors.) No information is
displayed for nodes that are not currently inserted into
the ring (inactive nodes).
The error counts in the Error Summary window are identical
to the error counts displayed in the View/Manage Ring menu
and Ring Data window for the ring.
To display the Error Summary window, select View Error
Summary from the View/Manage Ring menu. From the Error
Summary window, you can reset the Sectra Server for DOS
error counters for the highlighted node by pressing <F10>.
Fields
Node: The nodes currently inserted into the ring.
If you have not supplied a node name to Sectra
Server for DOS, Sectra Server for DOS uses the
node's adapter address.
Beacon The total number of beacon frames transmitted
Frames: by the node since Sectra Server for DOS was last
loaded or the ring's error counters were reset.
A beacon frame indicates that a hard error has
occurred on the ring. A hard error totally
disrupts the transmission of user data on the
ring.
Isolating The total number of isolating errors for the
Errors: node since Sectra Server for DOS was last
loaded or the ring counters were reset. An
isolating error is a soft error that can be
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 5-3
isolated to a specific area of the ring. Soft
errors can disrupt token ring operation, thus
degrading performance. However, soft errors do
not totally disable the ring, as do hard errors.
Non- The total number of non-isolating errors for
isolating node since Sectra Server for DOS was last
Errors: loaded or the ring counters were reset. A non-
isolating error is a soft error that cannot be
isolated to a specific area of the ring.
Keys
<F7> Resets the Sectra Server for DOS error counters
for all nodes on the ring.
<F10> Resets the Sectra Server for DOS error counters
for the highlighted node.
<Esc> Exits to the View/Manage Ring menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 5-4
CHAPTER SIX
Viewing and Managing Node Data
Sectra Server for DOS allows you to view a great deal of
data about each node in a ring and to manage this data
efficiently. This chapter, which describes how to view and
manage node data, contains the following sections:
* Viewing a Node's Data
* Viewing a Node's Error Counters
* Adding a Node to the Sectra Server for DOS Database
* Modifying a Node's Data
* Deleting a Node from the Sectra Server for DOS Database
Viewing a Node's Data
When you select View Nodes from the View/Manage Ring, you
display the Node Data Window for Inserted nodes, which
displays information about nodes currently inserted into
the ring. On the left side of the window, the inserted
nodes are displayed in the order in which they occur on
the ring, beginning with the adapter in the workstation.
Going higher in the list represents going upstream on the
ring; going lower represents going downstream.
To display the data for an inserted node, place the cursor
on that node.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Inserted Nodes Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ │ 0001c8720251 │ Name: Address: 0001c8720251 ║│
│║ │! 0001c85110a6 │ Type: ║│
│║ │! 0001c84b127f │ ║│
│║ │! 0001c84b1289 │ Inserted: Oct 26, 1992 14:00:15 ║│
│║ │! 0001c84420ad │ Last Seen: Oct 26, 1992 14:01:25 ║│
│║ │! 0001c85e008c │ Authorized: Yes ║│
│║ │! 0001c84b1288 │ First Seen: Oct 26, 1992 13:52:13 ║│
│║ │! 0001c85e0063 │ NAUN: 0001c85e0063 ║│
│║ │ │ Allowed: [MTWThFSSu] 00:00 - 23:59 ║│
│║ │ │ Removed: 0 times ║│
│║ │ │ ║│
│║ │ │ Location: ║│
│║ │ │ Machine: ║│
│║ │ │ Adapter: ║│
│║ │ │ Driver: ║│
│║ │ │ Comment: ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
│ F2=Error Counters F3=Modify Node Data F5=Authorize All Ins=Add Node │
│ F6=Inactive Nodes F8=Block/Unblock F9=Authorize Node │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-1
Fields
Name: A user-supplied name for the selected node.
If no name has been supplied, this field is
blank.
Type: Specifies the type of function performed by
the selected node (for example, file server,
workstation, print server). This is user-
supplied text.
Address: The selected node's adapter address.
Inserted: The date and time when the selected node was
last inserted into the ring.
Last Seen: The date and time when Sectra Server for DOS
last saw the selected node in the ring.
Authorized: Indicates whether a node is authorized to be
on the ring. To authorize a single node, select
that node and press <F9>. To authorize all
nodes in the ring, press <F5>.
First Seen: The date and time when Sectra Server for DOS
first saw the selected node in the ring.
NAUN: The name of the selected node's Nearest Active
Upstream Neighbor (NAUN).
Allowed: The days of the week and hours of the day
during which the selected node is allowed on
the ring.
Removed: The number of times (since the node was placed
in the Sectra Server for DOS database) that
Sectra Server for DOS has removed the selected
node from the ring.
Location: The physical location of the selected node.
This is user-supplied text.
Machine: The type of computer at the selected node.
This is user-supplied text.
Adapter: The type of token ring adapter at the selected
node. This is user-supplied text.
Driver: The type and version of token ring driver at
the selected node. This is user-supplied text.
Comment: A user-supplied comment about the selected
node.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-2
Keys
<F2> Displays the Node Error Counters window.
<F3> Displays the Modify Node Data window for the
selected node.
<F5> Authorizes all nodes that are currently
inserted.
<F6> Displays the Node Data for Inactive Nodes
window. If there are no inactive nodes,
Sectra Server for DOS displays the following
message:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ There are no inactive nodes to display ║
║ ║
║ -- Press Any Key to Continue -- ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝
<F8> When a node is not blocked from ring access,
selecting the node and pressing this key
displays the following message:
╔════════════════════════╗
║ Remove and Block Node? ║
╠════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚════════════════════════╝
Select Yes and press <Enter> to remove and
block the node from the ring. Select No (the
default answer) and press <Enter> to leave the
node in the ring.
When a node is blocked from ring access,
selecting the node and pressing <F8> displays
the following message:
╔═══════════════════════════════╗
║ Allow Normal Control On Node? ║
╠═══════════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚═══════════════════════════════╝
Select Yes and press <Enter> to unblock the
node. Select No (the default answer) and press
<Enter> to leave the node blocked.
If node removal is turned on, blocking a node
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-3
removes the node from the ring and blocks the
node from further access to the ring. The node
is removed and blocked regardless of whether the
node is authorized to be inserted into the ring
and whether the node is allowed to be in the
ring at the present time. If node removal is
turned off, blocking has no effect on a node.
Blocked nodes are marked with an asterisk (*).
Unblocking a node returns the node to normal
control, which means that the node may insert
into the ring if either or both of the
following is true: (1) the node is authorized
and is allowed on the ring at this time or
(2) if unauthorized nodes are allowed on the
ring. If the node is unauthorized, the asterisk
(*) changes to an exclamation point (!).
<F9> Authorizes the selected node to be inserted into
the ring. A node that is not authorized to be
inserted into the ring is marked with an
exclamation point (!).
<Ins> Displays the Add Node window, which is used to
add a node to the Sectra Server for DOS database.
<Esc> Exits the window and returns to the View/Manage
Ring menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-4
Viewing Node Data for Inactive Nodes
The Node Data Window for Inactive Nodes displays
configuration data for nodes that are not currently inserted
into the ring. To display the Node Data Window for Inactive
nodes, press <F6> when the Node Data Window for Inserted
Nodes is displayed. Press <F6> again to return to the Node
Data Window for Inserted Nodes.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Inactive Nodes Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ │* 0001c85e008c │ Name: Address: 0001c85e008c ║│
│║ │ │ Type: ║│
│║ │ │ ║│
│║ │ │ State: Blocked ║│
│║ │ │ Last Seen: Oct 26, 1992 14:02:45 ║│
│║ │ │ Authorized: No ║│
│║ │ │ First Seen: Oct 26, 1992 13:52:15 ║│
│║ │ │ ║│
│║ │ │ Allowed: [MTWThFSSu] 00:00 - 23:59 ║│
│║ │ │ Removed: 3 times ║│
│║ │ │ ║│
│║ │ │ Location: ║│
│║ │ │ Machine: ║│
│║ │ │ Adapter: ║│
│║ │ │ Driver: ║│
│║ │ │ Comment: ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
│ F3=Modify Node Data F5=Authorize All Ins=Add Node │
│ F6=Inserted Nodes F8=Block/Unblock F9=Authorize Node Del=Delete Node │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Fields
Name: A user-supplied name for the selected node.
If no name has been supplied, this field is
blank.
Type: Specifies the type of function performed by
the selected node (for example, file server,
workstation, print server). This is
user-supplied text.
Address: The selected node's adapter address.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-5
State: The state of the selected node. The possible
node states are as follows:
Blocked - The node is blocked from access to
the ring. If node removal is turned on, the
node is deinserted from the ring. If node
removal is turned off, blocking has no effect
on a node.
Not Allowed - The node is not currently allowed
on the ring but is allowed on the ring at other
times.
Not Inserted - The node is currently allowed on
the ring but is not inserted into the ring.
Last Seen: The date and time when Sectra Server for DOS
last saw the selected node in the ring.
Authorized: Indicates whether a node is authorized to be on
the ring. To authorize a single node, select
that node and press <F9>. To authorize all
nodes in the ring, press <F5>.
First Seen: The date and time when Sectra Server for DOS
first saw the selected node in the ring.
Allowed: The days of the week and hours of the day
during which the selected node is allowed on
the ring.
Removed: The number of times (since the node was placed
in the Sectra Server for DOS database) that
Sectra Server for DOS has removed the selected
node from the ring.
Location: The physical location of the selected node.
This is user-supplied text.
Machine: The type of computer at the selected node.
This is user-supplied text.
Adapter: The type of token ring adapter at the selected
node. This is user-supplied text.
Driver: The type and version of token ring driver at
the selected node. This is user-supplied text.
Comment: A user-supplied comment about the selected
node.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-6
Keys
<F3> Displays the Modify Node Data window for the
node selected on the left of the window.
<F5> Authorizes all nodes that are currently
inserted.
<F6> Displays the Node Data for Inserted Nodes
window. If there are no inactive nodes,
Sectra Server for DOS displays the following
message:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ There are no inactive nodes to display ║
║ ║
║ -- Press Any Key to Continue -- ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝
<F8> When a node is not blocked from ring access,
selecting the node and pressing this key
displays the following message:
╔════════════════════════╗
║ Remove and Block Node? ║
╠════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚════════════════════════╝
Select Yes and press <Enter> to remove and
block the node from the ring. Select No (the
default answer) and press <Enter> to leave the
node in the ring.
When a node is blocked from ring access,
selecting the node and pressing <F8> displays
the following message:
╔═══════════════════════════════╗
║ Allow Normal Control On Node? ║
╠═══════════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚═══════════════════════════════╝
Select Yes and press <Enter> to unblock the
node. Select No (the default answer) and
press <Enter> to leave the node blocked.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-7
If node removal is turned on, blocking a node
removes the node from the ring and blocks the
node from further access to the ring. The node
is removed and blocked regardless of whether
the node is authorized to be inserted into the
ring and whether the node is allowed to be in
the ring at the present time. If node removal
is turned off, blocking has no effect on a node.
Blocked nodes are marked with an asterisk (*).
Unblocking a node returns the node to normal
control, which means that the node may insert
into the ring if either or both of the
following is true: (1) the node is authorized
and is allowed on the ring at this time or (2)
if unauthorized nodes are allowed on the ring.
If the node is unauthorized, the asterisk (*)
changes to an exclamation point (!).
<F9> Authorizes the selected node to be inserted
into the ring. A node that is not authorized
to be inserted into the ring is marked with an
exclamation point (!).
<Ins> Displays the Add Node window, which is used to
add a node to the Sectra Server for DOS
database.
<Del> Deletes the selected node from the Sectra
Server for DOS database. Sectra Server for DOS
requests the following confirmation:
╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
║ Delete Node from Sectra Database? ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════╝
Select No (the default answer) and press <Enter>
to cancel the deletion. Select Yes and press
<Enter> to delete the node from the database.
<Esc> Exits the window and returns to the View/Manage
Ring menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-8
Viewing a Node's Error Counters
To view an error summary of all nodes in the ring, display
the Error Summary window (see Chapter 4 for more
information).
The Node Error Counters window displays the error counters
that Sectra maintains for a selected node. Press <F2> from
either of the Node Data windows to display the Node Error
Counters window.
To view an error summary of all nodes in the ring, display
the Error Summary window (see Chapter 4 for more information).
The node error counters are divided into three categories:
* Beacon frames - A beacon frame indicates that a hard
error occurred. Hard errors totally disrupt normal
ring operation. No user data can be transferred on
the ring while beacon frames are being transmitted.
* Isolating Errors - An isolating error is a soft error
that can be isolated to a specific area of the ring,
such as the token ring adapter, the nearest active
upstream neighbor (NAUN), the adapter cable, or a
Multistation Access Unit (MAU). Soft errors can
disrupt token ring operation, thus degrading
performance. However, soft errors do not totally
disable the ring, as do hard errors.
* Non-isolating errors - A non-isolating error is a soft
error that cannot be isolated to a specific area of
the ring.
See Chapter 9 for a detailed description of hard and soft
errors, including each type of isolating and non-isolating
error recognized by Sectra Server for DOS.
Two error counts are provided for each counter: a session
count and a total count. The session count indicates how
many errors have occurred since the node was last inserted
into the ring. The total count indicates how many errors
have occurred since Sectra Server for DOS started counting
errors for the node. Press <F10> to reset the selected
node's counters.
Fields
Beacon The number of beacon frames transmitted
Frames: from the node.
Isolating Errors:
Abort The number of abort delimiter frames
Delimiter: transmitted from the node.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-9
A/C: The number of A/C errors detected by the
node.
Burst: The number of burst errors detected by the
node.
Internal: The number of internal errors that have
occurred at the node.
Line: The number of line errors detected by the node.
Other The number of other isolating errors detected
Isolating: by the node.
Non-isolating Errors:
Frame Copy: The number of frame copy errors detected by
the node.
Frequency: The number of frequency errors detected by
the node.
Lost Frame: The number of lost frame errors detected by
the node.
Receiver The number of receiver congestion errors
Congestion: detected by the node.
Token: The number of token errors detected by the
node.
Other Non- The number of other non-isolating errors
isolating: detected by the node.
For All Counters:
Counters The date and time when the node's error
Reset: counters were last reset.
Errors/ The number of errors per minute for the node
Minute: during the current viewing session.
Keys
<F1> Help
<F2> Displays the data for the node selected on the
left side of the window.
<F10> Resets all error counters for the node to zero.
Both the session and total counts are reset.
<Esc> Exits to the View/Manage Ring menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-10
Add or Modify a Node's Data
Adding a Node
To add a node to the Sectra Server for DOS database, display
the Add Node window by pressing the <Ins> key when either
of the Node Data windows is displayed. Then enter the
information about the new node. The only required
information is the node's adapter address. Press <Esc> to
enter the node information into the database and return to
the previously displayed Node Data window.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Inserted Nodes Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗║│
│║║ Add Node ║║│
│║╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣║│
│║║ Adapter Address: 000000000000 ║║│
│║║ Name: ║║│
│║║ Type: ║║│
│║║ Allowed Days: [MTWThFSSu] ║║│
│║║ Allowed Times: Start: 00:00 Stop: 23:59 ║║│
│║║ Authorized: No ║║│
│║║ ║║│
│║║ Machine: ║║│
│║║ Location: ║║│
│║║ Adapter: ║║│
│║║ Driver: ║║│
│║║ Comment: ║║│
│║╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Modifying a Node's Data
To modify the user-supplied data for a node in the Sectra
Server for DOS database, press <F3> when either of the Node
Data windows is displayed. This displays the Modify Node
Data window. The fields in the Modify Node Data window are
identical to those in the Add Node window. Make the
appropriate changes to the node data. To enter the changes,
press <Esc> to exit the window and then select and enter Yes
when asked for confirmation.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-11
Fields
Adapter Specifies the node's adapter address. This
Address: is the only information that you must supply
to add the node to the database.
Name: Specifies a name for the node (a user-supplied
text string). Sectra Server for DOS will use
this name to identify the node in its menus
and windows.
Type: Specifies the type of function performed by the
node (for example, file server, workstation,
print server). This is a user-supplied text
string.
Allowed The default is all seven days of the week.
Days: Selecting this field and pressing <Enter>
displays the Allowed Days menu:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Inserted Nodes Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗║│
│║║ ╔══════════════════╗ Add Node ║║│
│║╠════════║ Allowed Days ║═════════════════════════════════════════════╣║│
│║║ Adapter╠══════════════════╣51 ║║│
│║║ ║ │Monday ║r ║║│
│║║ ║ │Tuesday ║ ║║│
│║║ Allo║ │Wednesday ║] ║║│
│║║ Allow║ │Thursday ║00 Stop: 23:59 ║║│
│║║ Au║ │Friday ║ ║║│
│║║ ║ │Saturday ║ ║║│
│║║ ║ │Sunday ║ ║║│
│║║ ╚══════════════════╝ ║║│
│║║ Adapter: ║║│
│║║ Driver: ║║│
│║║ Comment: ║║│
│║╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
You can remove days during which the node is
allowed on ring by pressing <Del>. Press <Esc>
to exit the menu.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-12
If you wish to restore a day that is not
selected, press <Ins> to display the
Other Days menu:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Inserted Nodes Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗║│
│║║ ╔══════════════════╗ ╔══════════════════╗ ║║│
│║╠════════║ Allowed Days ║═════║ Other Days ║════════════════════╣║│
│║║ Adapter╠══════════════════╣51 ╠══════════════════╣ ║║│
│║║ ║ │Monday ║r ║ │Saturday ║ ║║│
│║║ ║ │Tuesday ║ ║ │Sunday ║ ║║│
│║║ Allo║ │Wednesday ║] ║ │ ║ ║║│
│║║ Allow║ │Thursday ║00 ║ │ ║ ║║│
│║║ Au║ │Friday ║ ║ │ ║ ║║│
│║║ ║ │ ║ ║ │ ║ ║║│
│║║ ║ │ ║ ║ │ ║ ║║│
│║║ ╚══════════════════╝ ╚══════════════════╝ ║║│
│║║ Adapter: ║║│
│║║ Driver: ║║│
│║║ Comment: ║║│
│║╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The Other Days menu lists the days that are not
currently selected. To specify a day, select
it and press <Enter>, or highlight a group of
days and press <F5>. Then press <Esc> to exit
the menu.
If no days are specified, the node is allowed
in the ring every day of the week for the
period specified in the Allowed Times field.
Allowed Specifies the hours during the day when the
Time: node is allowed on the ring. This a continuous
period of time with start and stop points that
must be specified to the hour and minute.
A 24-hour numbering scheme (0-23 hours) must be
used. If no allowed time is specified, the
node is allowed in the ring for 24 hours during
each day specified in the Allowed Days field.
Location: Specifies the physical location of the node.
This is user-supplied text.
Machine: Specifies the type of computer at the node.
This is user-supplied text.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-13
Adapter: Specifies the type of token ring adapter at
the node. This is user-supplied text.
Driver: Specifies the type of token ring driver at
the node. This is user-supplied text.
Comment: A user-supplied comment about the node.
Keys
<Esc> Exits to the previously displayed Node Data
window. If any changes were made, Sectra
Server for DOS will ask for confirmation.
Select Yes (the default answer) and press
<Enter> to enter the node into the database.
Select No and press <Enter> to cancel the
addition of the node to the database.
If the node specified in the Add Node window
already exists in the database, Sectra Server
for DOS displays the following confirmation
message:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ Node Address Already Exists ║
║ ║
║ -- Press Any Key to Continue -- ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Select Yes (the default answer) and press
<Enter> to enter the data into the database.
Select No and press <Enter> to cancel this
operation.
Deleting a Node from the Sectra Server for DOS Database
To delete a node from the Sectra Server for DOS database,
display the Node Data Window for Inactive Nodes. Position
the cursor on the node (in the node list) that you want to
delete from the database. Then press <Del> to delete the
node, and select and enter Yes when asked for confirmation.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 6-14
CHAPTER SEVEN
Logging and Highlighting Events
Sectra Server for DOS allows you to view events as they
occur on a ring and to examine an event log that contains
the ring's recent history. You can select which events
Sectra Server for DOS displays and logs.
This chapter contains the following sections:
* Viewing Events as They Occur
* Examining the Ring's Recent History
* Selecting Events to Log and Highlight
Event Log Windows
Event Log Monitor
The Event Log Monitor window displays ring events as they
occur. New events are displayed at the bottom of the window.
The window automatically scrolls up as needed to display
events.
There must be an event log for the ring (event logging for
the ring must have been turned at some point) to see anything
in the Event Log Window. Otherwise, Sectra Server for DOS
will display an empty screen.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Event Log - Monitor Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ │ Ring configuration changing 14:13:36 ║│
│║ │ Standby monitor summary last = 0001c85e008c ( 5 seen) 14:13:36 ║│
│║ │ 1 Burst errors between 0001c84b1288 & File Server 14:13:38 ║│
│║ │ 1 Token errors transmitted reported by 0001c84b1288 14:13:38 ║│
│║ │ Ring purge event from node 0001c84b1288 14:13:39 ║│
│║ │ Active monitor present from node 0001c84b1288 14:13:39 ║│
│║ │ Node 0001c85e0063 NAUN changed to 0001c84b1288 14:13:39 ║│
│║ │ Standby monitor summary last = 0001c85e0063 ( 1 seen) 14:13:39 ║│
│║ │ Node File Server NAUN changed to 0001c85e0063 14:13:39 ║│
│║ │ Standby monitor summary last = 0001c85e008c ( 6 seen) 14:13:39 ║│
│║ │ 1 Line errors between 0001c85e0063 & File Server 14:13:41 ║│
│║ │ 1 Burst errors between 0001c85e0063 & File Server 14:13:41 ║│
│║ │ 1 Token errors transmitted reported by 0001c84b1288 14:13:41 ║│
│║ │ Active monitor present from node 0001c84b1288 14:13:46 ║│
│║ │ Standby monitor summary last = 0001c85e0063 ( 1 seen) 14:13:46 ║│
│║ │ Node inserted into ring - 0001c85e0063 14:13:46 ║│
│║ │ Standby monitor summary last = File Server ( 1 seen) 14:13:46 ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 7-1
Event Log History
Manually scrolling up the Event Log Monitor window displays
the Event Log History window, which allows you to examine the
event log for the ring. Placing the cursor on the last event
in the log returns the window to monitor mode.
Fields
Events: Descriptions of events that have occurred on
the ring. See Appendix A for event definitions.
Time: The time at which the corresponding event
occurred.
Keys
<up arrow> Moves the cursor up or down one line,
<down arrow> respectively. Moving the cursor to the last
event in the log returns the Event Log window
to monitor mode.
<PgUp> Positions the cursor on the first event in the
window. When pressed from the Event Log
Monitor window, displays the Event Log History
window.
<PgDn> Positions the cursor on the last event in the
window. When pressed from the Event Log
History window, displays the Event Log Monitor
window.
<Home> Positions the cursor on the first event in the
event log. When pressed from the Event Log
Monitor window, displays the Event Log History
window.
<End> Positions the cursor on the last event in the
event log. When pressed from the Event Log
History window, displays the Event Log Monitor
window.
<Esc> Exits the Event Log window and displays the
View/Manage Ring menu.
<F1> Help
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 7-2
Selecting Events to Log and Highlight
You can specify the events that Sectra Server for DOS logs
and also highlight events you consider particularly
significant. Highlighted events are displayed in bold on
monochrome monitors, and in yellow on color monitors.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Select Events to Log Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ Errors: Normal Events: ║│
│║ Beacon Frame: Yes Ring Purge: Yes ║│
│║ Isolating Errors: Yes Claim Token: Yes ║│
│║ Non-isolating Errors: Yes New Active Monitor: Yes ║│
│║ Active Monitor Error: Yes Active Monitor Present: Yes ║│
│║ Neighbor Notification Incomplete: Yes Standby Monitor Present: Yes ║│
│║ ║│
│║ Sectra Control Events: Configuration Events: ║│
│║ Ring Counters Reset: Yes NAUN Changed: Yes ║│
│║ Node Removed from Ring: Yes Node Left Ring: Yes ║│
│║ Ring Change Completed: Yes ║│
│║ Sectra Events: Ring Change In Process: Yes ║│
│║ Sent Alarm: Yes Node Inserted into Ring: Yes ║│
│║ Changed Event Log Filter: Yes Node Inserted First Time: Yes ║│
│║ Changed Alarm Definition: Yes ║│
│║ ║│
│║ ║│
│║ ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The Select Events to Log and Select Events to Highlight
windows are identical, and are both accessed from the
View/Manage Ring Data menu.
Select events with the Select Events to Log window.
To display this window, choose Select Events to Log from
the View/Manage Ring menu. To select an event from the
window, place the cursor next to the event, type Y, and
then press <Enter>. (The default is all events selected).
To deselect an event, place the cursor over the event and
type N.
Use the same procedure for the Select Events to Highlight
window. Appendix A describes all Sectra Server for DOS events.
Press <Esc> to return to the View/Manage Ring menu. Sectra
Server for DOS prompts you to confirm any changes you have
made.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 7-3
Fields
To display and log an event, select that event and type Y.
To prevent Sectra Server for DOS from displaying and
logging an event select that event and type N.
Keys
<Esc> Exits to the View/Manage Ring menu. If any
changes were made, Sectra Server for DOS will
display the following message:
╔═══════════════╗
║ Save Changes? ║
╠═══════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚═══════════════╝
Select Yes (the default answer) and press
<Enter> save the changes. Select No and press
<Enter> to discard the changes.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 7-4
CHAPTER EIGHT
Setting Alarms
This chapter, which describes how to set Sectra Server for
DOS alarms, contains the following section:
* Configuring an Alarm
Configuring an Alarm
Sectra Server for DOS allows you to specify whether certain
error conditions trigger an alarm. Alarms automatically
notify you when a specified error condition occurs.
To set an alarm, first display the Alarm Definition window
by selecting Define Alarm from the View/Manage Ring menu.
Then enter Y next to each error condition that you want to
trigger an alarm and N next to each error condition that you
don't want to trigger an alarm.
If you want an excessive number of errors per minute to
trigger an alarm, you must also specify a threshold (errors
per minute) for each error type.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
││Thomas-Conrad Corp. Sectra Token Ring Server for DOS Mon Oct 26 14:10 ││
│└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗│
│║ Tech Pubs Alarm Definition Normal ║│
│╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣│
│║ Errors Threshold (Errors/Minute) ║│
│║ Beacon Frame: No 99 ║│
│║ Isolating Error: No 99 ║│
│║ Non-isolating Error: No 99 ║│
│║ ║│
│║ Other Events ║│
│║ Too Many Nodes on Ring: No Threshold: 260 ║│
│║ Node Removed from Ring: No ║│
│║ Node Inserted for First Time: No ║│
│║ ║│
│╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝│
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 8-1
If the presence of too many inserted nodes triggers an alarm,
you must specify the allowed number of nodes on the ring.
The appropriate threshold is specific to each site. The
default value for this threshold is 260 nodes.
On exiting the Alarm Definition window, you must confirm
any changes that you have made.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NOTE │
│ Benchmarking your network activity and then │
│ monitoring activity on a regular basis is the │
│ only sure way to establish feasible thresholds │
│ for your network. │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Fields
Errors
Beacon Specifies whether too many beacon frames
Frames: per minute on the ring triggers an alarm.
Isolating Specifies whether too many isolating errors
Errors: on the ring triggers an alarm.
Non-Isolating Specifies whether too many non-isolating
Errors: errors on the ring triggers an alarm.
Threshold Specifies the number of errors per minute
(Errors/ that will trigger an alarm. The threshold
Minute): can be specified for each error type.
Other Events
Too Many Specifies whether Sectra Server for DOS posts
Nodes an alarm when too many nodes are inserted into
on Ring: the ring.
Node Removed Specifies whether Sectra Server for DOS posts
from Ring: an alarm when it removes a node from the ring.
Node Inserted Specifies whether Sectra Server for DOS posts
for First an alarm when a node inserts into the ring for
Time the first time.
Threshold: Specifies the number of nodes allowed to
be inserted into the ring at any given time.
This threshold is a 1- to 3-digit decimal
number. The default value is 260. The
appropriate setting for the alarm threshold
is specific to each site. You may want to
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 8-2
set this threshold to the theoretical limit
for your network or to the maximum number of
nodes at which your network operates
efficiently. Sectra Server for DOS does not
remove the above-limit nodes from the ring.
Keys
<Esc> Exits to the View/Manage Ring menu. If any
changes were made, Sectra Server for DOS
displays the following confirmation message:
╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
║ Save Changes to Alarm Definition? ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════╣
║ │No ║
║ │Yes ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════╝
Select Yes (the default answer) and press
<Enter> to save the changes. Select No and
press <Enter> to discard the changes.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 8-3
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 8-4
CHAPTER NINE
Troubleshooting and Preventive Maintenance
This chapter describes how to use Sectra Server for DOS to
troubleshoot and maintain your token ring network. This
chapter contains the following sections:
* Types of Token Ring Errors
* Error Detection and Recovery Protocols
* Establishing a Fault Domain
* Troubleshooting Techniques
* Preventive Maintenance
Types of Token Ring Errors
Token ring errors are classified as one of two types:
Hard errors - Hard errors prevent user data from being
transmitted on the ring. In addition, hard errors require
that the ring be reconfigured, either automatically by ring
recovery protocols or manually by replacing the faulty
hardware. The node immediately downstream from the hard
error reports the error by transmitting beacon MAC frames.
The beacon frame itself is not a hard error but is the token
ring's response to a hard error. From the beacon frame,
Sectra Server for DOS extracts the addresses of the nodes
that mark the fault domain for the hard error (the section
of the ring in which the error probably occurred).
Soft errors - Soft errors do not totally halt the
transmission of user data on the ring but, in sufficiently
large numbers, may cause the ring's performance to degrade
noticeably. The node detecting a soft error reports it by
transmitting a report soft error MAC frame. (Actually, in
this frame, a node transmits a summary of soft errors
collected by the node.) Soft errors are classified as
isolating or non-isolating errors. An isolating error
indicates the two nodes between which an error occurred.
Non-isolating errors do not isolate the error to a particular
part of the ring. Tables 9-1 and 9-2 briefly describes the
isolating and non-isolating soft errors.
In any ring there are a certain amount of soft errors over
a period of time. This is normal. You must monitor your
ring to determine what is a normal level of soft errors.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-1
Isolating Soft Errors
╔══════════════════════╤════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Error │ Description ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Abort Delimiter │ A node stops transmitting a frame ║
║ │ before the frame is completed. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Access Control (A/C) │ A node is unable to properly ║
║ │ participate in the ring poll ║
║ │ process. Specifically, the Access ║
║ │ Control (A/C) field of the active ║
║ │ monitor present (AMP) frame or ║
║ │ standby monitor present (SMP) ║
║ │ frame received from the nearest ║
║ │ active upstream neighbor (NAUN) ║
║ │ has an incorrect value. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Burst │ A node detects that no data was ║
║ │ transmitted by its nearest active ║
║ │ upstream neighbor (NAUN) for 5.5 ║
║ │ bit times between the start of a ║
║ │ frame and the end of the frame. ║
║ │ (A bit time is the time required ║
║ │ to transmit a bit on the ring.) ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Internal │ An adapter discovers an error ║
║ │ internal to itself or its ║
║ │ workstation that prevents the node ║
║ │ from functioning properly. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Line │ A line error occurs when any of ║
║ │ the following happens: a token or ║
║ │ a frame is repeated by a node, a ║
║ │ token or frame is corrupted, or a ║
║ │ frame exhibits a frame check ║
║ │ sequence (FCS) error. (An FCS ║
║ │ error indicates that data may be ║
║ │ corrupted in the frame.) ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Other Isolating │ An isolating error other than an ║
║ │ A/C error, abort delimiter error ║
║ │ burst error, internal error, or ║
║ │ line error. This error type is ║
║ │ reserved by the IEEE 802.5 (token ║
║ │ ring) specification. ║
╚══════════════════════╧════════════════════════════════════╝
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-2
Non-Isolating Soft Errors
╔══════════════════════╤════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Frame Copied Error │ A frame addressed to a node is ║
║ │ marked as having been read by ║
║ │ another node. The node for which ║
║ │ the frame was intended reports the ║
║ │ error. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Frequency Error │ A node detects that the ring clock ║
║ │ generated by the active monitor ║
║ │ differs too much from the node's ║
║ │ internal clock. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Lost Frame │ A node does not receive a frame ║
║ │ that it has transmitted. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Receiver Congestion │ A workstation loses a frame ║
║ │ addressed to it because of a lack ║
║ │ of buffer space. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Token Error │ The active monitor reports this ║
║ │ error when it has to place a good ║
║ │ token on the ring because an error ║
║ │ occurred during token passing on ║
║ │ the ring or because it did not ║
║ │ detect a token or frame within a ║
║ │ 10 millisecond period. ║
╟──────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Other Non-Isolating │ A non-isolating error other than ║
║ │ an A/C error, abort delimiter ║
║ │ error, burst error, internal ║
║ │ error, or line error. This error ║
║ │ type is reserved by the IEEE 802.5 ║
║ │ (token ring) specification. ║
╚══════════════════════╧════════════════════════════════════╝
Error Detection and Recovery Protocols
Token ring networks have extensive built-in facilities for
error detection and recovery. Before attempting to
troubleshoot token ring errors, you should have a general
understanding of how token ring networks report errors and
attempt to recover from them. This information will help
you distinguish genuine error conditions from spurious ones
and help you to troubleshoot problems.
Active and Standby Monitor Functions
One adapter on the ring is the active monitor. The monitor
contention process (described below) determines which
adapter becomes the active monitor. The active monitor
performs the following functions to ensure that the ring
operates properly:
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-3
* Generates the ring's master clock, which the other
nodes use as a reference for transmit and receive
operations
* Introduces a delay into the ring to ensure that a
token can be completely transmitted before being
taken off the ring by the transmitting node
* Starts the ring poll process (described below) by
transmitting an active monitor present (AMP) frame
* Monitors the ring poll process to ensure that it
proceeds correctly
* Every 10 milliseconds, verifies that a good token
is on the ring
* Purges a frame if the node that transmitted the
frame fails to do so
* Generates a new token if one is needed
All other nodes serve as standby monitors. Each standby
monitor performs the following functions to determine whether
the active monitor is functioning properly:
* Every 2.6 seconds, verifies that it has received a
good token. If a standby monitor has not received a
good token within this time, either there is no active
monitor or the active monitor is not functioning properly.
* Detects the absence of AMP frames. The absence of AMP
frames indicates that there is no active monitor or that
the active monitor is not functioning properly
* Detects frequency errors, which indicate that there is
no active monitor or that the active monitor is not
functioning properly. (A frequency error is a non-
isolating soft error that occurs when a node detects
that the ring clock generated by the active monitor
differs too much from the node's internal clock.)
* If the active monitor is not functioning properly,
starts the monitor contention process to select a new
active monitor
Ring Poll Process
The ring poll process (also known as the neighbor
notification process) allows each inserted node to obtain
the address of its Nearest Active Upstream Neighbor (NAUN).
This information enables a node to indicate the fault domain
for beacon events and for isolating soft errors. The boundaries
of a fault domain are the address of the node transmitting the
frame and the address of its NAUN.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-4
The active monitor starts the ring poll process by
transmitting an AMP frame, which provides the downstream
node with the active monitor's address. The downstream node
then transmits an SMP frame, which indicates its own address
to the next downstream node. This process continues until
each node has identified itself to its downstream neighbor.
Ring Insertion Process
Before an adapter inserts itself into the ring, it tests
itself and verifies the integrity of the ring status. The
ring insertion process consists of the following steps:
* Lobe media test
* Physical insertion into the ring and monitor check
* Address verification
* Ring polling
* Request for initialization
When the adapter is not physically inserted into the ring,
the adapter's transmit signal is looped back into the
adapter's receiver. Before the adapter inserts itself into
the ring, it performs a lobe media test, which is a loopback
test that verifies that the adapter is receiving the same
data that it is transmitting. Before the adapter physically
inserts itself into the ring, it must successfully transmit
and receive many lobe media test MAC frames and successfully
send one or more duplicate address test (DAT) frames to itself.
After passing the lobe media check, the adapter outputs a DC
current, thereby activating a relay that physically inserts
the adapter's transmit and receive pairs into the ring. If
the adapter does not detect the presence of an active monitor
through the receipt of an AMP frame, SMP frame, or ring purge
frame within a certain period of time, it starts the monitor
contention process (described below).
After the adapter inserts itself into the ring and detects
the presence of an active monitor, the adapter verifies that
it has a unique node address on the ring by transmitting DAT
MAC frames to itself. If another node in the ring indicates
that it has the same address, the adapter deinserts itself
from the ring and terminates the insertion process.
Once the adapter determines that it has a unique address on
the ring, it participates in the ring poll process
(described above). During this process, the adapter receives
the address of its nearest active upstream neighbor (NAUN)
and provides its own address to its downstream neighbor.
The adapter then requests operating parameters from the node
that serves as the parameter server for the ring. The
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-5
parameter server sends initialization information to adapters
that are inserting into the ring, thereby ensuring that all
adapters use the same operating parameters. These parameters
replace the adapter's default parameters used during the ring
insertion process.
Monitor Contention Process
The monitor contention process establishes one node in the
ring as the active monitor. This process starts when a
standby monitor detects that there is no properly
functioning active monitor in the ring. A standby monitor
starts the process by transmitting a claim token MAC frame.
On receiving such a frame, each node enters the contention
process. The node with the highest numbered address wins
the contention and becomes the active monitor, whereupon
it immediately performs a ring purge (described below).
Ring Purge Process
The ring purge process puts the ring into a known state so
that normal operation can resume. The active monitor starts
the ring purge process when it detects a token error or after
becoming the active monitor through monitor contention. To
start the ring purge process, the active monitor transmits a
ring purge MAC frame. On receiving this same frame, the
active monitor transmits a free token to start normal ring
operation. If errors prevent the active monitor from
receiving a ring purge MAC frame, the active monitor
restarts the monitor contention process. If the monitor
contention process times out, the first node to detect this
condition starts the beaconing process (described below).
Beaconing Reconfiguration and Removal
The beacon process attempts to recover the ring from a hard
error. If the recovery succeeds, the ring resumes normal
operation. If the recovery fails, constant beaconing on the
ring indicates that the ring is disabled and requires manual
intervention.
Beaconing begins whenever normal recovery methods (a ring
purge followed by the monitor contention process) fail to
clear an error from the ring. The adapter that first detects
that monitor contention has timed out starts the beaconing
process by transmitting a beacon MAC frame every 20
milliseconds. This adapter is in beacon transmit mode.
On receiving a beacon frame, all other nodes in the ring
enter beacon repeat mode, in which they repeat the beacon
frame transmitted by the adapter in beacon transmit mode.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-6
If an adapter in beacon repeat mode does not receive a
beacon frame within a 200-millisecond period, it assumes
that the ring has recovered from beaconing. The adapter
then starts or enters the monitor contention process.
The error that caused the beaconing is located between the
receiver of the adapter that is in beacon transmit mode and
the transmitter of the NAUN. One or both of these two
adapters, which mark the boundary of the fault domain, may
attempt to verify its own operation by automatically removing
itself from the ring and executing its media lobe test
(described above). If the NAUN receives eight consecutive
beacon frames from its downstream neighbor, it performs the
reconfiguration and removal process. If the adapter in
beacon transmit mode receives its own beacon frame for 26
seconds (indicating that the removal of the NAUN from the
ring did not solve the problem), it performs the
reconfiguration and removal process. If either adapter
fails its media lobe test, it remains physically deinserted
from the ring. If either adapter passes the test, it
reinserts itself into the ring and enters the monitor
contention process. If the monitor contention process fails,
beaconing resumes, resulting in constant beaconing on the
ring.
Establishing a Fault Domain
Before troubleshooting a token ring problem, you should
establish a fault domain for the problem. A fault domain
is a limited area of the ring in which the error probably
occurred (or is occurring).
A fault domain is bounded by two nodes. Beacon event
messages and isolating soft error messages identify the two
nodes that mark the fault domain for the beacon event or
soft error, respectively. One node reported the beacon
event or soft error. The other node is the reporting node's
nearest active upstream neighbor (NAUN).
A fault domain contains the following field replaceable units
(FRUs):
* The adapter that reported the error condition
* The reporting adapter's lobe (the cable between the
adapter and the MAU)
* The MAU to which the reporting adapter is attached
* The NAUN's adapter
* The NAUN's lobe
* The MAU to which the NAUN is attached (which could
be the same MAU to which the reporting adapter is
attached or a different MAU)
* The ring-in/ring-out cable between the MAUs (if the
two adapters are on different MAUs)
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-7
Sectra Server for DOS provides two ways to determine the
boundaries of a fault domain:
* The easiest way is to display the Error Summary window
for the ring and see which node is reporting beacon
events or isolating errors. This node and its NAUN
mark the boundaries of the fault domain.
* The second way to determine a fault domain is to
examine the error log for the ring and get the
addresses for the two nodes from a beacon event
message or an isolating soft error message.
Once you have determined a fault domain, you can use adapter
diagnostics (such as Thomas-Conrad's Ring Tools, which is
supplied with each Thomas-Conrad adapter) or replace FRUs to
isolate the failing FRU within the fault domain.
Troubleshooting Techniques
Symptoms of network problems, what you or users on your
network experience when the network is not operating
properly, can be divided into three general classes:
* A node can't insert itself into the ring.
* Ring performance is noticeably degraded and numerous
errors are occurring.
* The ring is in a beaconing state or has recovered
from beaconing.
A Node Can't Insert into the Ring
If a node is unable to insert into the ring, the user at the
node will not be able to access the network. In this case,
use the following troubleshooting procedure:
1 If necessary, check whether unauthorized nodes are
allowed in the ring. Both the View/Manage Ring
menu and the Ring Data window indicate this.
2 Use the Node Data Window for Inactive Nodes to check
whether the node is an authorized node and whether
the node is allowed to be in the ring at this
time.
3 If the node is allowed to be in the ring at this time,
review any other configuration information displayed
for the node. You may find, for example, that the
driver is not suitable for the adapter or that there
is a mismatch between the adapter speed and the ring
speed.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-8
4 Check that the adapter's lobe cable (the cable running
from the network adapter to the MAU) is properly
connected to both the adapter and the MAU.
5 Verify that the adapter is configured properly for
the ring. (For example, make sure that the ring speed
is correct.) If the adapter is a Thomas-Conrad
adapter, insert the Ring Tools diskette into a
workstation and enter ringtools to invoke the Ring
Tools diagnostic program. Then select Adapter Settings
to display the configuration settings for the adapter.
If the adapter is not a Thomas-Conrad adapter, you may
have to check the jumper and switch settings on the
adapter.
6 Check whether the MAU port is malfunctioning by
plugging the adapter into another MAU port. If the
adapter can now insert into the ring, the previously
used MAU port is the problem.
7 If the adapter is using a locally administered address
(a user-assigned address), verify that the adapter
address is unique on the ring. If the adapter is a
Thomas-Conrad adapter, run Ring Tools to verify the
address. Otherwise, turn off the locally administered
address. If the adapter can insert into the ring when
the locally administered address is turned off, the
problem is a duplicate address.
8 Verify that the adapter is functioning properly by
running the adapter diagnostics on the adapter (Ring
Tools on a Thomas-Conrad adapter). You can also
replace the adapter with a known-good adapter and
try to insert the new adapter into the ring. If the
adapter fails the diagnostic or if a known-good adapter
can insert into the ring, the problem is the adapter.
9 Test the cabling between the adapter and MAU by
replacing it with a known-good cable or replacing the
workstation with a known-good workstation. If the
problem goes away in the first case or does not go
away in the second case, the cabling is the problem.
10 Check whether the adapter uses bus master mode
(the fastest mode of transferring data between the
workstation and the ring) and whether the adapter's
workstation supports bus master mode. Note that
some so-called IBM-compatible computers do not
actually support bus master mode. If possible,
configure the adapter for I/O mapped mode and try to
insert it into the ring. You can also replace the
adapter with a known-good adapter. If a known-good
adapter cannot insert into the ring and if known-good
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-9
cabling is being used, the problem is probably that the
workstation does not support bus master mode.
11 If the above procedure does not isolate the problem,
call Thomas-Conrad Technical Services toll-free
24-hours-a-day 7 days-a-week at (800) 334-4112.
Performance Degradation
There are two major causes of performance degradation,
excessive network traffic and excessive soft errors.
During peak periods of use, your network may carry more
traffic than it can service at optimum speed. If this
performance degradation becomes a problem, you may want to
split the ring into two or more smaller rings. Otherwise,
consider limiting the access of high-traffic nodes to hours
when other nodes are not using the network very much. You
should also make sure that the number of allowed nodes on
the ring (which you can specify in the Specify Ring
Parameters window) is not exceeded.
Excessive soft errors can also cause a noticeable
degradation of ring performance. How many soft errors are
excessive is specific to each ring. The following
guidelines, however, are valid for all rings:
* Rings with many nodes are more likely to experience
soft errors than rings with few nodes.
* Rings running at 16 Mbps are more likely to experience
soft errors than rings running at 4 Mbps.
* Rings with Type 3 media (unshielded twisted-pair),
which is more susceptible to ring jitter, are more
likely to experience soft errors than rings with Type 1
media (shielded twisted-pair).
You should become familiar enough with each ring on your
network to get an idea of how many soft errors in a given
period is normal. Keep in mind that inserting and removing
nodes from the network causes soft errors. If your ring is
very stable, if no nodes are inserting into or deinserting
from the ring, you should see very few soft errors, if any,
on the ring.
As explained earlier in this chapter, soft errors can be
isolating or non-isolating errors. Both types of errors
often occur together. In fact, when troubleshooting soft
errors, you should look for isolating soft errors, which
indicate a fault domain. Except for the receiver
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-10
congestion error, non-isolating errors do not provide much
useful information for troubleshooting. (The receiver
congestion error points to a problem with the workstation
at the node that reported the error.)
Use the following troubleshooting procedure to troubleshoot
isolating soft errors:
1 Look at the Error Summary window for the ring to
determine which node is reporting the isolating soft
errors. This node and its NAUN are the boundaries of
the fault domain. You can also look at the soft error
messages in the event log for the ring. The
messages identify the two nodes that establish the
fault domain for a soft error.
2 Remove one of these adapters from the ring. If the
soft errors go away, this adapter is probably the
cause of the soft errors. If the adapter is a
Thomas-Conrad adapter, insert the Ring Tools diskette
into a workstation and enter ringtools to invoke the
Ring Tools diagnostic program. Then run Ring Tools on
the adapter. If the adapter is not a Thomas-Conrad
adapter, run the manufacturer's diagnostics (if
available) on the adapter. You can also try
reinserting the adapter back into the ring. If this
causes excessive soft errors (once the ring has
stabilized after the insertion), this adapter is the
problem.
3 If there are still excessive soft errors, repeat step
2 for the other adapter indicated in the fault domain.
4 If steps 2 and 3 did not isolate the problem, replace
the lobe cable for one of the adapters in the fault
domain with a known-good lobe cable. Then reinsert
the adapter into the ring. If the soft errors go away,
the lobe cable is the problem. If the soft errors do
not go away, replace the cable for the other adapter
in the fault domain. If the soft errors go away, this
lobe cable is the problem.
5 If there are still excessive soft errors, determine
whether the fault domain includes one MAU or two
MAUs.
6 If the fault domain includes only one MAU, this MAU
is probably the problem. Reinitialize the MAU by
powering it down and then powering it up or by using
an appropriate reset tool. If this doesn't solve the
problem, replace the defective MAU with a known-
good MAU if you have one. The soft errors should go
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-11
away. If you don't have a spare MAU, connect the
affected adapters to another MAU if possible.
Otherwise, try to reroute the ring cabling to bypass
the defective MAU. If this does not solve the problem,
call Thomas-Conrad Technical Services toll-free
24-hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week at (800) 334-4112.
7 If the fault domain includes two MAUs, disconnect the
cable between the MAUs. If the soft errors go away,
the problem is the cable.
8 If there are still excessive soft errors, the problem
is probably one of the MAUs in the fault domain.
Disconnect the other ring-in/ring-out cable from one of
the MAUs. If the soft errors go away, this MAU is the
problem. If this does not solve the problem, do the
same thing to other MAU. If the soft errors go away,
this MAU is the problem.
9 If there are still excessive soft errors, call Thomas-
Conrad Technical Services toll-free 24-hours-a-day
7 days-a-week at (800) 334-4112.
Beaconing
A ring experiencing beaconing can either beacon continuously,
or recover from beaconing, in which case one or more nodes is
removed from the ring. A troubleshooting procedure is
provided for each of these situations.
The Ring Has Recovered from Beaconing
If the ring has recovered from a beacon event, use the
following troubleshooting procedure to determine whether
either or both of the nodes in the fault domain is
malfunctioning:
1 Look at the Error Summary window for the ring to
determine which node reported the beacon events.
This node and its nearest NAUN are the boundaries
of the fault domain. You can also look at the beacon
event messages in the event log for the ring. The
messages identify the two nodes that establish the
fault domain for the beacon event.
2 Either of these adapters may have removed itself
from the ring. If the adapter is a Thomas-Conrad
adapter, insert the Ring Tools diskette into a
workstation and enter ringtools to invoke the Ring
Tools diagnostic program. If the adapter is not a
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-12
Thomas-Conrad adapter, run the manufacturer's
diagnostics (if available) on the adapter. If no
adapter diagnostics are available, replace the removed
adapter with a known-good adapter. If the adapter
fails its diagnostics or if a known-good adapter works,
the problem is the removed adapter.
3 If both adapters pass their diagnostics or if the
known-good adapter does not work, the problem may be a
MAU port. Reinitialize the MAU to which the suspect
adapter is connected by powering it down and then
powering it up or by using an appropriate reset tool.
If this doesn't solve the problem, plug each of the
affected adapters into a different MAU port. If the
adapter works, the problem is the MAU port into which
the adapter was previously plugged. If necessary,
replace the MAU.
4 If you cannot locate the cause of beaconing, monitor
the fault domain to see whether further errors occur.
The Ring is Beaconing Continuously
If the ring is beaconing continuously, use the following
troubleshooting procedure:
1 Look at the Error Summary window for the ring to
determine which node is reporting the beacon events.
This node and its NAUN are the boundaries of the
fault domain. You can also look at the beacon event
messages in the event log for the ring. The
messages identify the two nodes that establish the
fault domain for the beacon event.
2 Remove one of these adapters from the ring. If the
beaconing goes away, this adapter is probably the
cause of the beaconing. Reinsert the adapter into the
ring. If beaconing resumes, this adapter is the
problem. Verify this by testing the affected adapter
with adapter diagnostics if available. If the adapter
is a Thomas-Conrad adapter, insert the Ring Tools
diskette into a workstation and enter ringtools to
invoke the Ring Tools diagnostic program. Then run
Ring Tools on the adapter.
3 If the ring is still beaconing after you remove one
adapter, repeat step 2 for the other adapter indicated
in the beacon message.
4 If the ring is still beaconing, determine whether the
fault domain includes one MAU or two MAUs.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-13
5 If the fault domain includes only one MAU, this MAU
is probably the problem. Reinitialize the MAU by
powering it down and then powering it up or by using
an appropriate reset tool. If this doesn't solve the
problem, replace the defective MAU with a known-
good MAU if you have one. Beaconing should stop.
If you don't have a spare MAU, connect the affected
adapters to another MAU, if possible. Otherwise, try
to reroute the ring cabling to bypass the end of the
MAU (ring-in or ring-out) that may be causing the
problem. If you still cannot restore normal ring
operation, call Thomas-Conrad Technical Services
toll-free 24-hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week at
(800) 334-4112.
6 If the fault domain includes two MAUs, disconnect the
cable between the MAUs. If the beaconing stops, the
problem is the cable.
7 If beaconing does not stop, the problem is probably
one of the MAUs in the fault domain. Disconnect the
other ring-in/ring-out cable from one of the MAUs. If
beaconing stops, this MAU is the problem. If the ring
is still beaconing, do the same thing to other MAU.
If beaconing stops, this MAU is the problem.
8 If the ring is still beaconing, call Thomas-Conrad
Technical Services toll-free 24-hours-a-day, 7 days-
a-week at (800) 334-4112.
Preventive Maintenance and Security
You can use Sectra Server for DOS to perform preventive
maintenance for your token ring network and to monitor
network security.
Preventive maintenance involves monitoring the operation of
your network to spot and correct problems before they cause
a serious disruption of network operation. Sectra Server
for DOS enables you to do this by providing both overviews
and detailed records of network operation.
To get a quick overview of what's been happening on the
network, look at the View/Manage Ring menu for each ring
to see whether any beacon events and/or soft errors have
occurred. Look at the Error Summary window see where in
the ring any errors have been occurring.
To get a more detailed picture of network operation, display
the Event Log Monitor window to look at network events as
they occur or display the Event Log History window to examine
the event log for the ring. If you notice that certain
conditions, such as too many nodes on the ring or an
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-14
excessive number of soft errors per minute, tend to precede
serious problems, use the Alarm Definition window to set up
alarms for these conditions.
Sectra Server for DOS gives you several ways of monitoring
ring security. Both the View/Manage Ring menu and the Ring
Data window indicate whether any unauthorized nodes are in
the ring. Use the Alarm Definition window to direct Sectra
Server for DOS to post an alarm when any of the following
occurs:
* Sectra Server for DOS removes a node from the ring
* An unauthorized node attempts to gain access to
the ring
* Sectra Server for DOS sees a node on the ring for the
first time.
Use the Node Data Window for Inactive Nodes to examine
configuration information about nodes that Sectra Server for
DOS has removed from the ring. If you have specified in the
Select Events to Log window that Sectra Server for DOS log
certain Sectra Server for DOS control events, you can also
look at the event messages concerning the removal of nodes
from the ring.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-15
Sectra Server for DOS
Page 9-16
APPENDIX A
Sectra Server for DOS Event Descriptions
This appendix describes the events that Sectra Server for DOS
can display in the Event Log Monitor window and can log to a
ring's event log file (accessed with the Event Log History
window). This appendix contains the following sections:
* Event Types
* Event Descriptions
Event Types
Sectra Server for DOS recognizes six types of events:
* Events that are always logged. Sectra Server for DOS
always logs these events if event logging is turned on.
However, Sectra Server for DOS does not generate an
alarm when an event of this type occurs. The following
events are always logged:
Alarm - {cause_of_alarm}
Event logging started
Event logging stopped
* Sectra Server for DOS events. These events indicate
when Sectra Server for DOS has sent an alarm, when a
user has selected events for Sectra Server for DOS to
display and log, or when Sectra Server for DOS itself
has been loaded or unloaded:
Client Started
Client Stopped
Event filter set
Sectra Server for DOS for DOS loaded
Sectra Server for DOS for DOS unloaded
* Normal events. These events occur as part of normal
ring operation:
Active monitor present from {node}
Claim token event from {node}
New active monitor from {node}
Ring purge event from {node}
Standby monitor present from {n} nodes - last: {node}
* Configuration events. These events indicate a change
in the ring configuration:
{node} inserted into ring ({n} nodes in ring)
{node} left ring ({n} nodes currently in ring)
{node} seen for first time ({n} nodes in ring)
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-1
Ring configuration change completed ({n} nodes in ring)
Ring configuration changing
* Error events. These events result from hard or soft
errors that occur on the ring:
Abort delimiter: {n} from {node_1} to {node_2}
A/C error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Active monitor error event from {node}
Beacon frame between node_1 and node_2
Burst error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Frame copy error: {n} reported by node
Frequency error: {n} reported by node
Internal error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Line error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Lost frame: {n} reported by node
MAC frame(s) lost
Neighbor notification incomplete event - last: {node}
Receiver congestion: {n} reported by node
Token error: {n} reported by node
* Sectra Server for DOS control events. These events
indicate when Sectra Server for DOS has removed a node
from the ring, when a user has blocked a node from
entering the ring, or when a user resets the node or
ring counters:
{node} blocked
{node} counters reset
{node_1} NAUN changed to {node_2}
{node} removed
Ring counters reset
Event Descriptions
Each event message is described below. The event messages
are arranged in alphabetical order.
Abort delimiter: {n} from {node_1} to {node_2}
Event type: Error
Description: {n} abort delimiter errors generated by
{node_1} were detected by its downstream
neighbor, {node_2}. An abort delimiter is
an isolating soft error that occurs when a
node stops transmitting a frame before
the frame is completed.
Probable A recoverable or unrecoverable error
Cause: internal to the node's workstation, or a
token that is not terminated properly (a
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-2
token in which the third byte is not an
ending delimiter).
Action: If an excessive number of these errors
occurs, replace the {node_1} and/or {node_2}
adapters. If this does not solve the
problem, follow the troubleshooting
procedure for performance degradation in
Chapter 9.
A/C error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Event type: Error
Description: {n} access control (A/C) errors occurred
between {node_1} and {node_2}. This an
isolating soft error that occurs during the
ring poll process when a node is unable
to properly participate in this process.
(Specifically, the Access Control (A/C)
field of an active monitor present (AMP)
frame or standby monitor present (SMP)
frame has an incorrect value.) The error
is generated by {node_1} and detected by
its downstream neighbor, {node_2}.
Possible This error can occur when a node inserts
Cause: itself into the ring or deinserts itself from
the ring. An excessive number of these
errors can indicate a malfunctioning
adapter at {node_1}.
Action: If an excessive number of these errors
occurs, follow the troubleshooting
procedure for performance degradation in
Chapter 9.
Active monitor error event from {node}
Event type: Error
Description: The active monitor (node) has received a
purge MAC frame or active monitor
present (AMP) MAC frame that it did not
transmit, or has received a claim token
frame. This a non-isolating soft error
indicating that there may be another
active monitor on the ring.
Possible The active monitor that sent the error
Cause: frame may be malfunctioning, another
node on the ring may incorrectly assume
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-3
that it is the active monitor and may
therefore be malfunctioning, or there may
be another node with the same address
as the active monitor (node).
Action: Run adapter diagnostics on the adapter at
the node identified in the event message.
(Run Ring Tools on a Thomas-Conrad
adapter.) If you don't have any adapter
diagnostics, replace the adapter with a
known-good adapter to see if the problem
goes away.
Active monitor present from node
Event type: Normal
Description: The active monitor (node) transmits an
AMP frame to make the standby monitor
nodes aware of its presence. The active
monitor does this following a successful
ring purge and every 7 seconds during
normal operation to initiate the ring poll
process.
Action: None required.
Alarm - {cause_of_alarm}
Event type: Always Logged
Description: Sectra Server for DOS detected an error
condition for which it is supposed to post
an alarm. The {cause_of_alarm} indicates
which of the following error conditions
caused the alarm: (too many) beacon frames
(per minute), (too many) isolating errors
(per minute), (too many) non-isolating
errors (per minute), too many nodes on ring,
node not allowed on ring, or node inserted
for first time.
Possible Any of the above-listed error conditions.
Cause:
Action: Determine which error condition caused
the alarm and respond to the problem
accordingly.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-4
Beacon frame between {node_1} and {node_2}
Event type: Error
Description: {node_2} transmitted a beacon frame,
indicating that a hard error exists between
its receiver and the transmitter of its
NAUN, {node_1}.
Possible A beacon frame always indicates that
Cause: normal ring operation was or is being
disrupted by a hard error. See Chapter 9
for a detailed description of what can
cause beaconing.
Action: Follow the appropriate troubleshooting
procedure for beaconing, as described in
Chapter 9.
Burst error: n between {node_1} and {node_2}
Event type: Error
Description: {n} burst errors occurred between {node_1}
and {node_2}. A burst error is an isolating
soft error that occurs when {node_2}
detects that no data was transmitted by
{node_1} for 5.5 bit times between the start
and the end of a frame. (A bit time is the
amount of time required to transmit one
bit on the ring.)
Possible A break in cabling, an adapter being
Cause: unplugged, a bumped wire, or normal ring
activity, such as the insertion of a node
into the ring.
Action: If an excessive number of these errors
occurs, follow the troubleshooting
procedure for performance degradation
described in Chapter 9.
Claim token event from node
Event type: Normal
Description: A node started the monitor contention
process by placing a claim token on the
ring.
Possible A new active monitor is needed for the
Cause: ring.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-5
Action: None required. This is a normal
occurrence on the ring.
Client Started
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS
Description: A user started Sectra Server for DOS Client
for Windows. The user is identified by the
network username.
Action: None required.
Client Stopped
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS
Description: A user stopped Sectra Server for DOS Client
for Windows. The user is identified by the
network username.
Action: None required.
Event filter set
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS
Description: The event log filter for the ring was
changed.
Action: None required.
Event logging started
Event type: Always Logged
Description: A user turned on Sectra Server for DOS event
logging for the ring.
Action: None required.
Event logging stopped
Event type: Always Logged
Description: A user turned off Sectra Server for DOS event
logging for the ring.
Action: None required.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-6
Frame copy error: {n} reported by node
Event type: Error
Description: {node} reported {n} frame copy errors. A
frame copy error is a non-isolating soft
error that occurs when a frame addressed
to a node is marked as having been read
by another node. The node for which the
frame was intended reports the error.
Possible The line is broken, there was electrical
Cause: noise on the line, or there is a duplicate
node address.
Action: If an excessive number of these errors
has occurred, look for isolating errors that
occurred at approximately the same time
as the frame copy error so that you can
establish a fault domain (the section of
the ring that is probably causing the
problem).
Frequency error: {n} reported by node
Event type: Error
Description: {node} reported {n} frequency errors. A
frequency error is a non-isolating soft
error that occurs when a node detects
that the ring clock generated by the active
monitor differs too much from the node's
internal clock.
Possible The node's lobe cable (the cable between
Cause: the adapter and the MAU) is too long.
The node's adapter could be
malfunctioning.
Action: Run adapter diagnostics on the affected
adapter (Ring Tools on a Thomas-Conrad
adapter), or replace the adapter with a
known-good adapter. If the adapter is not
the problem, replace the {node's} lobe
cable with a shorter cable.
Internal error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Event type: Error
Description: {n} internal errors occurred between
{node_1} and {node_2}. An internal error is
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-7
an isolating soft error that occurs when an
adapter discovers an error internal to itself
or its workstation that prevents the node
from functioning properly in the ring.
Possible The adapter at the affected node may be
Cause: malfunctioning.
Action: Run adapter diagnostics on the affected
adapter, replace this adapter with a
known-good adapter, try the affected
adapter with a new workstation, or try a
known-good workstation with the affected
adapter.
Line error: {n} between {node_1} and {node_2}
Event type: Error
Description: {n} line errors occurred between {node_1}
and {node_2}. A line error is an isolating
error that occurs when any of the
following happens: a token or a frame is
repeated by a node, a token or frame
contains corrupted fields, or a frame
check sequence (FCS) error occurs. An
FCS error indicates that data may be
corrupted in the frame
Possible A node inserting into or deinserting from
Cause: the ring, a bad lobe cable (the cable
between the adapter and the MAU), or
electrical noise.
Action: If an excessive number of line errors has
occurred, check whether a node inserted
into or deinserted from the ring just before
the line errors occurred. If the errors
persist, replace the {node's} lobe cable with
a known-good cable.
Lost frame: n reported by node
Event type: Error
Description: A lost frame error is a non-isolating error
that occurs when a node does not receive
a frame that it has transmitted.
Possible A node inserted into or deinserted from
Cause: the ring, or the {node's} adapter or lobe
cable is bad.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-8
Action: Check whether a node inserted into or
deinserted from the ring just before the
line errors occurred. If the errors persist,
run adapter diagnostics on the affected
adapter (Ring Tools on a Thomas-Conrad
adapter), or replace the adapter with a
known-good adapter. Replace the {node's}
lobe cable with a known-good cable.
Neighbor notification incomplete event - last: {node}
Event type: Error
Description: This error is a non-isolating soft error that
occurs when one of the standby monitors
did not complete the ring poll process.
{node} is the last node to complete the
sequence.
Possible The downstream neighbor of {node} could
Cause: be malfunctioning.
Action: If there is an excessive number of these
errors, replace {node's} downstream
neighbor.
New active monitor from {node}
Event type: Normal
Description: {node} has won the monitor contention and
is now the new active monitor.
Action: None required. This is a normal
occurrence.
{node} blocked
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS control
Description: A user has blocked {node's} access to the
ring by pressing the <F8> key when the
Node Data Window for Inserted Nodes is
displayed.
Action: None required.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-9
node counters reset
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS control
Description: A user reset the Sectra Server for DOS error
counters for the node.
Action: None required.
{node} inserted into ring ({n} nodes in ring)
Event type: Configuration
Description: {node} inserted itself into the ring. {n}
nodes, including the newly inserted node, are
now inserted into the ring.
Action: None required.
node left ring ({n} {nodes} currently in ring)
Event type: Configuration
Description: {node} removed itself from the ring. n
nodes are now inserted into the ring.
Action: None required.
{node_1} NAUN changed to {node_2}
Event type: Configuration
Description: The nearest active upstream neighbor
(NAUN) of {node_1} changed to {node_2}.
Possible A node inserted into the ring between
Cause: {node_1} and its former NAUN or
deinserted from the ring between {node_1}
and its former NAUN.
Action: None required. This is a normal
occurrence.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-10
{node} removed
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS control
Description: Sectra Server for DOS removed {node} from
the ring.
Possible The node is not authorized to be in the
Cause: ring or is not allowed to be in the ring at
this time.
Action: Check whether the node is currently
authorized to be in the ring.
{node} seen for first time ({n} {nodes} in ring)
Event type: Configuration
Description: This is the first time that {node} has
inserted itself into the ring since Sectra
Server for DOS was last loaded. If the node
was an unauthorized node or was not allowed to
be in the ring at this time, Sectra Server for
DOS removed the node from the ring.
Action: Check whether the node is authorized to
be on the ring.
Receiver congestion: {n} reported by node
Event type: Error
Description: {node} reported {n} receiver congestion
errors. A receiver congestion error occurs
when a workstation loses a frame
addressed to it because of a lack of buffer
space.
Possible The workstation's operation is too slow or
Cause: has come to a halt. The problem could
also be that one or more workstations is
sending an excessive number of frames
to the indicated node.
Action: If an excessive number of these errors
has occurred, return the workstation to
normal operation, reduce the workstation
workload, or replace the workstation with
a faster one.
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-11
Ring configuration change completed ({n} nodes in ring)
Event type: Configuration
Description: The configuration of the ring has changed.
Sectra Server for DOS has completed
reorganizing its database to account for
the change.
Possible Any event that causes one or more rings
Cause: to insert into or deinsert from the ring.
Action: None, unless a hard error caused the
reconfiguration; in that case, follow the
appropriate troubleshooting procedure for
beaconing described in Chapter 9.
Ring configuration changing
Event type: Configuration
Description: The configuration of the ring is changing.
Sectra Server for DOS is reorganizing its
database to account for the change.
Possible Any event that causes one or more rings
Cause: to insert into or deinsert from the ring.
Action: None, unless a hard error caused the
reconfiguration; in that case, follow the
appropriate troubleshooting procedure for
beaconing described in Chapter 9.
Ring counters reset
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS control
Description: The Sectra Server for DOS ring counters for
the ring were reset.
Action: None required.
Ring purge event from {node}
Event type: Normal
Description: The active monitor {node} has initiated a
ring purge operation.
Possible A node, on assuming the role of the new
Cause: active monitor, always performs a ring
purge. The active monitor also performs
a ring purge in response to error
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-12
conditions on the ring. (See Chapter 9 for
a description of the ring purge process.)
Action: None, unless the number of ring purges
are excessive; in that case, troubleshoot
any isolating soft errors associated with
the ring purge. Use the troubleshooting
procedure for performance degradation
described in Chapter 9.
Sectra Server for DOS for DOS loaded
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS
Description: The Sectra Server for DOS program was loaded.
Action: None required.
Sectra Server for DOS for DOS unloaded
Event type: Sectra Server for DOS
Description: The Sectra Server for DOS program was unloaded.
Action: None required.
Standby monitor present from {n} nodes - last: {node}
Event type: Normal
Description: This is a summary of the standby monitor
present (SMPs) frames transmitted by the
standby monitors as part of the ring poll
process. This message indicates that {n}
nodes transmitted SMP packets and that
{node} was the last node in the ring to do
so.
Action: None required. This is a normal
occurrence.
Token error: {n} reported by node
Event type: Error
Description: {n} token errors occurred and were reported
by {node}. A token error is a non-isolating
soft error reported by the active monitor
when it has to place a new token on the
ring because an error occurred during
token passing on the ring or because it
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-13
did not detect a token or frame within 10
milliseconds.
Possible This error is quite common when a node
Cause: inserts itself into the ring or removes itself
from the ring. If an excessive number of
these error occurs, there is probably a
cabling problem.
Action: If you suspect a problem, check for
isolating soft errors that occurred when
the token error occurred. Check the
cabling in the fault domain indicated by
any such isolating soft errors. (A fault
domain is the section of the ring in which
the error probably occurred.)
Sectra Server for DOS
Page A-14