Mac OS X to OS 9 Server - disconnects often
 

I have just migrated my work machine from OS 9 to OS X. The rest of our LAN is composed of OS 9 machines including the main server which I must access often. I can access the OS 9 server machine (not running server software) and all is well.... but I am never able to stay connected for more than about 5 mins at a time before I get auto-disconnected. The only other OS X machine on our OS 9 network has the same exact problem.

Does anyone know the solution to avoid auto-disconnects from an OS 9 machine sharing files via Appleshare (TCP/IP)?

So no one has any clues?

The actual msg that is displayed on the OS X box is:

"Disconnected"

The file server "XYZ" connection has unexpectedly closed down"

And advice greatly appreciated!

What revision of OS 9?

Thx for replying Craig! Thought no one was listening..

It is OS 9.2.1 running on the file server.

Note it is standard Mac OS 9.2.1 - not server version, etc. Seems to me I remember back in the day of using OS 9 servers that there was a guest auto-disconnect setting that had to be manually set somewhere. Not that this would affect this situation - just thought it might be related.

Hmmm, that's probably not it then; some revisions of 9 had some pretty bad Open Transport bugs.

You might try updating to 9.2.2 and see if that has any effect. And if it's dropping IP, try AppleTalk. Conversely, if it's dropping AppleTalk, try IP.

Also, are there any managed switches or routers involved?

It's a little (no, a lot) like sympathetic magic.

thx craig - not sure about the managed switches, etc.

I can tell you it drops both TCP and atalk connections at the same rate.

Here is the offical answer I got, 6+ months later



Re: Bug ID #3199725:Filesharing spontaniously disconnects connected to Mac OS 9 PFS




This message is being sent to you in regards to the bug you have reported. Our engineering team has tested against your report and is no longer able to reproduce the issue using Mac OSX 10.3, codename "Panther".

Mac OS X 10.3 was released publicly on Friday,October 24th at 8 PMPacific Time.

Please let us know whether or not you continueto experience the issue with the newly released software.

Thank you for your time. We truly appreciate your assistance in helping us discover and isolate bugs.

Best Regards,

The Bug Reporting Team
Apple Developer Connection
Worldwide Developer Relations



In other words, Buy Panther and *then* let us know if you have any more problems.

Gee Thanks....

Both OS X machines are brand new fresh install Panther's. Odd thing is - on day this week for about 1/2 the day I was able to stay connected. Then it returned to disconnecting every 5 mins and continued throughout the week. We changed nothing on the OS X boxes or the OS 9 box. Without being able to stay connected toa file server - there is no way we can migrate wholly to and OS X office. I find it hard to believe that there are not other out there withthis very same scenario and problem. I have receoved very little feedback on the few boards I have posted this too.

[Apple sez "Buy Pather"]


Well I'm glad to know I did not blow $130 on Panther only to find out it was no help.

Feel free to reference the above ADC reference number if you complain to Apple.

You wouldn't happen to know the easiest way to file a bug report with that ref number would you?

You have to join the Apple Developer Network. It's free, and with it and $4; you can get a cup of coffee at $tarbuck.....

Looks like you start somewhere near http://developer.apple.com/contact/programs.html

thx - I am already an ADC member. Logged in but I don't see an obvious place to post a bug report.

reporting bugs
 

thx - bug report filed.

Network Connection Issues
 

I'm interested to find out what Apple's reply is.
I have had a similiar problem with Mac OS X (10.2.8) boxes losing connections to a Windows 2000 Server.
My problem seems to be when we start copying very large files to the shared volume.
The copy times are high then "Bang" the old connection to server message appears.
It seems to be random and Network loads are not high.

We have investigated all areas to date but still live with the problem.

It's funny I found this today...after all these posts I am having the same issue with OSX10.3.8. Any more info on this.

Nothing fruitful. They insisted it was all fixed 3-4 versions ago, and when I demerred and refiled the bug, I got told "known problem" in effect.

I get the feeling they have no plans to ever fix it.


A workaround would be a script that would do SOMETHING across the link every 60 seconds. Anyone good at Appleesacript? (But I suppose it could be a bash shell script.....)

funny.. I was thinking about something simular. Have the problems with 2 new machines running 10.3.8 & Win2k3-server dropping connections. I now told the users to open a finder window of the server and installed FinderSync to ensure the window get refreshed often. No results yet, neither positive nor negative.

(AFAIR, the problem is an incomatibility between AFP 2.x and 3.x about sleeping connections)

A) Tell me about this "FinderSync"...

B) I have solved this, or have a workaround. If I turn off the "share overTCP/IP" options on the OS9 box; my problems vanish. The person who suggested this, from TJPA.com, said he's seen it both ways; sometimes enabling TCP/IP sharing solves it !!?!?!

FinderSync is a little nice tools refreshing finder windows often - no more problems with new files not showing up.

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/15945

It's a tool anyone should have anyway, but it might also avoid the connections to go asleep if a server window is open. AFP 3.x supports sleeping connections, AFP2.x (Windows 2k/2k3) not, but it seems, that OS X often does not recognize the correct version of the peer.
Will report if it does help, the connections tend to drop several times / day on these machines - very nasty.

I was running into the same problem. What I did was update my server (IMAC) to OSX and I have never unexpectantly been disconnected. I believe it is a OSX to OS9 connection problem. To test it, I connected to my old server running OS9 and my new server running OSX and my connection to the OS9 machine stays connected some days all day long, on other days, it drops every few minutes. I contacted APPLE and they had no concrete answers.

I am now in the process of upgrading all of my Macs to OSX, which means that my 6 old Imacs are being replaced with Emacs. I have found that the old Imacs just dont cut it with OSX, expecially since the HDs are only 6GB. Trying to convince my boss that the Old Imac are 6 years too old was an obstacle in itself. 6 years out of an Imac was a good investment. Time to try to keep up with technology.

Billy

The problems I have are OSX->OS9, period...

While I have multiple OSX boxes, the applications running on the server in question are OS9-native. It's counterproductive to run them on OSX+Classic.

Upgrading those apps will be not to OSX, but to one of the Linux servers here...

{I'd never buy an eMac myself; just like with iMacs, a video system failure gets you a dead box. While slowed by lack of RAM and the laptop drive, at least MiniMac's get you out of that trap..}

HELP - same problem....
 

Since upgrading to Windows 2003 Server at our school, OS X clients (10.3) are being disconnected randomly, sometimes even while being used. **We are using a AFP connection to the server on all Apple computers. *We have no problem connecting but then the connection will randomly drop off – but only on the OS X machines. *
*The time it waits before disconnecting seems random. This problem doesn't seem to happen on the PC clients or the OS 9 clients only the OS X. *Any help would be appreciated

OSX - Win2K server disconnections
 

I am joining this thread because I have been monitoring this subject and have indeed posted messages on the subject before. My problem is very similar to those already posted. I have disconnections to Windows 2000 server when copying some files from OSX machines only when using AFP, if I use SMB this is fine, problem is I use mixed macs (OS 9 and X) and the OS9 machines can not communicate via SMB without third party software (eg. Dave), and if I copy using SMB the other Macs using AFP do not recognise the file types. I assume there is a compatiblity issue with the version of Appleshare published to the Mac OSX machines as the OS 9 machines use Microsoft UAM. The disconnections do not follow any patterns sometimes the same file will copy other times there are disconnections.

Unfortunately I can not offer a fix but am joining the (probably) many with the same issue, hopefully someone will give us a good pointer!