Communication Issues Specific to the Advantage Database Server for NetWare

Networking Issues

The Advantage Database Server for NetWare uses SAP, Service Advertising Protocol, packets to advertise availability in the NetWare bindery or the dynamic part of the NetWare directory. SAP packets are broadcast to all binderies or directories on the network.

Advantage clients call a NetWare API to find the nearest NetWare bindery or directory. That bindery or directory is then searched to determine whether the Advantage Database Server for NetWare is located on the specified file server. If your network is divided into multiple sub-nets, a router is responsible for forwarding packets between the multiple sub-nets, and the Advantage Database Server for NetWare is located on one sub-net while your 32-bit Advantage application is located on a different sub-net, problems may occur connecting to the Advantage Database Server. If the router filters out SAP packets, that is, it does not pass SAP packets between sub-nets, the Advantage application will likely be unable to connect to the Advantage Database Server. This connection problem exists because the binderies/directories that exist on the client computer’s sub-net will not contain the information about the Advantage Database Server. The application will likely report a 6060 "Advantage Server Not Available" error. In this scenario, the router needs to be configured to allow Advantage Database Server SAP packets through. Configure the router to allow SAP packets of object type 77B (hex) or 1915 (decimal) through. This should allow the Advantage Database Server SAP packets (only) through the router, and allows Advantage Database Server information to be contained in all NetWare server binderies/directories. Thus, the connection to the Advantage Database Server for NetWare should be successful.

A Novell DOS utility exists called SCANBIND.EXE that will search the bindery/directory of the file server for the current drive. This allows you to determine whether the current file server’s bindery/directory contains information about the desired Advantage Database Server. SCANBIND.EXE can be obtained from the Advantage Developer Zone Web page on the Advantage Database Server web site, www.AdvantageDatabase.com. To use SCANBIND.EXE, type SCANBIND.EXE ADS_<servername> at a DOS prompt. For example, if the server name where the Advantage Database Server is running is named SERVER1, and the current drive is X:, then type:

X:\> SCANBIND.EXE ADS_SERVER1

This should produce something like the following if the bindery/directory on the file server for X: contains information about the Advantage Database Server located on server SERVER1. Note that the (1915) indicates the Advantage Database Server object type. Also note the network address of the Advantage Database Server, which in the example has a network number 00005555, a node number 000000000001, and a socket number 505F. If no information is displayed, the bindery/directory is not receiving SAP packets from the Advantage Database Server.

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ADS_SERVER1 UNKNOWN (1915)DYNAMIC NETWARE WRITE / ANYONE READ

 

ADS_SERVER1's PROPERTIES:

 

NET_ADDRESS DYNAMIC/ ITEM NETWARE WRITE / ANYONE READ

 

00 00 55 55 00 00 00 00 00 01 50 5f 00 00 00 00 ..UU......P_....