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NS is a mess

Updated: 26 Sep 2010 | 16 comments
Joseph Swenson's picture
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  I'm having all sorts of errors and problems with my server, and I would appreciate some community support.

I have multiple issues going on. It seems like my install, in its existing configuration, can't handle any real load at all. IIS keeps bailing and I see lots of deadlock errors when trying to do package deployments.

Here are some errors I'm seeing in the Altiris logs:
   

	Description: CAeXNSCPkgSvr::ProcessNSClientPolicies failed. IMSAdminBase->OpenKey failed. Meta Path /lm/w3svc/1/root/Altiris/PS. The path specified cannot be used at this time..

    
  Source: Altiris.TaskManagement.Data.AltirisSqlHelper.RepeatForDeadlocks

Description: AltirisSqlHelper.RepeatForDeadlocks(): Failed all retries

How can I make IIS and the SQL connection more robust? I've seen suggestions of moving the NSCap directory to another drive. Is this pretty much neccessary? We need this thing operational to do the bulk of our software deployment, and right now I can't get more that 3 packages pushed to a single machine before it starts crapping out.

Comments

mclemson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Does this KB help?

Does this KB help?

https://kb.altiris.com/article.asp?article=27957&p=1

Mentions your error message, but in an environment in which SharePoint Portal is also installed on the NS server.  Does your NS server share functions with SharePoint or any other services?  If so, what services?

What version are you running?

Mike Clemson, Systems Engineer
Intuitive Technology Group -- Symantec Platinum Partner

Joseph Swenson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Nope

The NS box is on its own physical server, completely dedicated to just running NS. The SQL DB is on a separate server.

jharings's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Are you running v7 or v6?

Some of the default settings are fairly aggresive and could use some tuning, but it depends on what version you are using.

Jim Harings
HP Enterprise Services
1st Rule of Connect Club: Mark the post that helped you the most as a 'solution'. 2nd Rule of Connect Club:You must talk about Connect club.

Joseph Swenson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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version

Running version 7, fully updated.
CMS SP2

mclemson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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What version IIS?

What version IIS?

Mike Clemson, Systems Engineer
Intuitive Technology Group -- Symantec Platinum Partner

Joseph Swenson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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6

6

jessek's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Restart IIS Admin Service

Try restarting the IIS Admin Service on your NS, and if that fixes this particular error, look into the MS hotfix shown here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946517.

Jesse Kozikowski
Aspirus, Inc.

Joseph Swenson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Applied the hotfix. Will

Applied the hotfix. Will monitor

jharings's picture
22
Mar
2010
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What is your item core cache size?

https://kb.altiris.com/article.asp?article=49244&p=1 - If you are seeing this error, adjust appropriately

What is the Resource membership update schedule set to?

What are your task agent policies (check in, etc) set to?

What is the default app pool in IIS set to?

Jim Harings
HP Enterprise Services
1st Rule of Connect Club: Mark the post that helped you the most as a 'solution'. 2nd Rule of Connect Club:You must talk about Connect club.

Joseph Swenson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Delta and policy updates are

Delta and policy updates are set to 5 minutes
Check in is every hour
What settings for the Default App Pool are you inquiring about? the recycle setting is 1740 minutes

jharings's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Depending on the number of clients

Delta and policy should be at least 30 minutes. In IIS, look on the performantce tab, and look at the request queue limit.

Jim Harings
HP Enterprise Services
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Joseph Swenson's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Request queue limit 1000

Request queue limit 1000

jharings's picture
22
Mar
2010
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Consider it relative to your memory install

however, you should be able to increase the request queue limit to at least 2000, especially if SQL is off-box.

I'm having second thoughts about the item cache changes, and it should only be used if you are seeing the specific issue mentioned.

Jim Harings
HP Enterprise Services
1st Rule of Connect Club: Mark the post that helped you the most as a 'solution'. 2nd Rule of Connect Club:You must talk about Connect club.

Joseph Swenson's picture
23
Mar
2010
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the NS box has 3 gigs RAM

the NS box has 3 gigs RAM installed

jharings's picture
23
Mar
2010
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That seems a little low

If you up it to 4gb, you can use the /3GB Switch.

Jim Harings
HP Enterprise Services
1st Rule of Connect Club: Mark the post that helped you the most as a 'solution'. 2nd Rule of Connect Club:You must talk about Connect club.

KSchroeder's picture
25
Mar
2010
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So...

...I haven't done a lot with NS7 yet...but the way I'm reading this, your NS has the Package Service installed on it.  I don't think that is necessary.  You may want to stand up another box (even a VM) to run the Package Service on.  Do you have any IIS "lockdown" configuration setup?  Moving NSCap shouldn't be necessary, since your SQL box is not on the NS.

Thanks,
Kyle
Symantec Trusted Advisor

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