8.5.2 Client Crash When Referencing Invalid Server Name

I am seeing a nasty Notes Client crash in serveral different circumstances but which I believe always has the same underlying cause. I don’t believe that this occured in 8.5.1 (but can’t revert to test it).

I would be interested to know if anyone else is seeing this problem or it is related only to our environment (I can demonstrate it on several machines using Vista/Windows 7), but it might be related to our network/DNS.

It appears that the Notes client crashes when attempting to resolve a server name for which there is no valid DNS entry (and which is not listed in a client or server connection doc). So for instance I get a repeatable crash in the following circumstances;

File - Open - Lotus Notes Application, then enter an invalid server name such as “somewhere” and hit enter, the client crashes.

Also in the Replicate - Find Replica if you enter an invalid server name, the client crashes.

and the real fun one is if in the workspace you select a database icon that points to a retired server (no longer existing) and use the properties box it crashes. This can make you workspace something of a minefield if you have any old icons in it.

When doing a Trace Ports it gets as far as “Checking for Somewhere on TCPIP” when the client crashes.

If you create a local connection for the server you are attempting to hit, the client attempts to use that connection document and then does not crash.

I can probably provide crash files if necessary but if this crash is as blatant as it appears I should not need to?? as it should be easy to reproduce…

Subject: Must be something in the environment…

But if you have an NSD file, you can ZIP it and send it to me for a quick check → rpatil@notesdev.ibm.com

Subject: not here

I can try and open a db on a non-existent server - no crash, just the normal can’t find server dialog

Subject: Thanks

In that case I suspect it might be something to do with our McAffee installation (our security guys have just about every possible scanning option turned on) or our network configuration.

Thanks for trying it…

Subject: I can’t reproduce your problem

No I can’t reproduce your problem, I’m running Notes/Administrator/Designer 8.5.2 on Windows 7 (64 bit)