NFS Connectionless Oritented - hangs Server (automounter)

[perfman_1]

I am working to get Netbackup to backup this HPUX server. The backup is hanging (partly) the server and i have narrowed down the problem to NFS. The syslog gives NFS server not responding error.

I am attaching the errors summary from the server in attachment. Please look at the connectionless oriented badcalls and retrans. i have a similar server (rp4440) where the same backup works fine, and it is setup the same way and uses the automounter.

It appears that the server is using automounter and not AUTOFS.

whenever i fire the backup, it will hang some functions like i cannot do a # ll / or ll /net
and it will hang up the terminal window.

Any help to get this fixed, will be greatly appreciated.

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,

please tell us your OS version!
If the OS version is less than 11iv2, check NFS differences in
/etc/rc.config.d/nfsconf, esp.
AUTOFS=

Look, if enhanced autofs is installed:
swlist ENHAUTOFS

mfG Peter

[perfman_1]

Here are the details:

Version: HP-UX B.11.11 U 9000/800
====================================
/etc/rc.config.d/nfsconf
--------------------------
NFS_CLIENT=1
NFS_SERVER=1
NUM_NFSD=16
NUM_NFSIOD=16
PCNFS_SERVER=0
LOCKD_OPTIONS=""
STATD_OPTIONS=""
MOUNTD_OPTIONS=""
AUTOMOUNT=1
AUTO_MASTER="/etc/auto_master"
AUTO_OPTIONS="-f $AUTO_MASTER"
START_MOUNTD=1
AUTOFS=0
AUTOMOUNT_OPTIONS=""
AUTOMOUNTD_OPTIONS=""

==============================

#swlist ENHAUTOFS
# Initializing...
# Contacting target "PHC7420"...
ERROR: Software "ENHAUTOFS" was not found on host

=================================

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,

to change to autofs, set the corresponding variable (and best: reboot).
START_MOUNTD=1
AUTOFS=1 <==== this one!
AUTOMOUNT_OPTIONS=""
AUTOMOUNTD_OPTIONS=""

mfG Peter

[perfman_1]

Hi,

So do you suggest upgrading to AUTOFS from Automounter? DO you think that could solve this issue?
I read about the AUTOFS and its supposed to handle TCP and NFSv3 and more stable.

Besides changing the AUTOFS to 1, do i have to do anything else? how about the maps? indirect/direct? soft/hard?

the current /etc/auto_master contain the following:

#more /etc/auto_master
/net -hosts -nosuid,soft

Do i have to change anything of this?

If you could explain your thoughts, it would be helpful.

[Dave Olker]

> So do you suggest upgrading to AUTOFS from Automounter?

I *strongly* encourage every customer I speak with to update to Enhanced AutoFS. I also encourage everyone to use TCP instead of UDP and use NFS v3 instead of NFS v2. Always.

If you can give me a compelling reason to stay with UDP or NFS v2 or the dirt old legacy automounter I'd love to hear it.

Get the Enhanced AutoFS from http://software.hp.com on this box as soon as possible and start using NFS v3 / TCP. That's my $.02.

Regards,

Dave

[perfman_1]

Dave,

Thanks much for your response.

I dont have any reason to stay on UDP/v2.

Would you please tell me how to start the NFS with TCP?

I will upgrade to enhanced AUTOFS.

[Dave Olker]

Hi,

On 11.11 TCP is the default protocol used by NFS. The reason you're using UDP is because you're using the very very old automounter that only knows how to use UDP and PV2. Once you update to Enhanced AutoFS (unless you specify otherwise in your maps) you'll get NFS v3 and TCP by default.

Regards,

Dave

[perfman_1]

Great! Hope this fixes my backup problem (Netbackup - oracle backup causes part of the server to hang or freeze)

Once again, thanks Dave!

[Dave Olker · Accepted solution]

I don't know if this will fix your specific problem, but I'll say this - if you ever wanted to report an automounter problem to HP the first thing we'd ask you to do is install the Enhanced AutoFS. We won't even entertain questions about the legacy automounter anymore.

In other words, even if it doesn't solve this specific problem, it certainly can't hurt, and if anything it should make all of your NFS filesystems work better (at least those managed by AutoFS).

Regards,

Dave