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Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!psuvm!jhl1
From: JHL1@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: NetSerial problem
Message-ID: <90338.094057JHL1@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 4 Dec 90 14:40:57 GMT
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 39

We are currently experiencing a problem with uploading text files from
any Macintosh though a NetSerial.  We primarily use MacTerminal 2.3.1 as
our terminal emulation program when connecting to our VAX 8700.  The
NetSerial is connected to a 19.2 line (which we normally run at 9600).
To upload a text file to the VAX in MacTerminal, you can either issue the
SEND FILE command, or do the SELECT, COPY, PASTE routine.  In either
case, the transfer will run for a bit, but then will freeze-up.  MacTerminal
is now frozen.  The only way to get MacTerminal back is the issue the
Command-Period break command.  But, although MacTerminal is usable, my
connection to the VAX is still hung.  The VAX still shows an active process.
Here's where it gets strange.  I now issue the NetSerial RELEASE command,
get the message telling me that the NetSerial is disconnecting, and wait
for a bout a minute until this dialog box disappears.  If I now hit a
few returns, I am active again on the VAX.  The NetSerial does not
disconnect, but seems to wake-up.

I have tried MacTerminal 3.0 and MicroPhone.  Although these seem to work
a bit better (the transfer goes further), they will still get hung.  We
have increased the System heap (as suggested by Shiva), but this has not
helped.  We have used a data analyzer on the VAX Terminal Server to check
for any possible control/flow signals, but there doesn't appear to be any
causing the freeze ups.  It appears that the problem resides in the
AppleTalk connection between the Mac and the NetSerial.  The problem
also occurs on NetSerials that are connected to dial-out modems.  And
we have had the problem on both Phase1 and Phase2 AppleTalk networks.
The NetSerial software is 3.5 (although we have tried 3.5.1 with no success)
and the SYSTEM versions have ranged from 4.2 through 6.0.7.  If we
remove the NetSerials from any of the above situations, the problems
disappear.

If anyone else has seen this problem, or has a possible solution/work around,
please e-mail me at JEFF@PSUPEN.PSU.EDU.  We are working with Shiva on this
problem, but have yet to develop a solution.  I'm looking for anything we
may have missed.

Jeffrey H. Lynn                             Homer: Boy must die,
Penn State College of Agriculture                  Boy must die!
Computer Services                           Bart:  I love you dad!
JEFF@PSUPEN.PSU.EDU                         Homer: OO!...dirty trick.


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