A while ago we upgraded our Domino mail servers from R5.0.8 to 6.0.2CF1. This is on an AS400 830 iSeries, with V5R2 and one LPAR.
Our Mail servers are centralised and we have more than 7500 clients (who are on the ND6.0.2 CF1 client) in more than 100 countries. 80 of these locations have their own application servers on either a win32 platform or the iSeries. Most of the ‘in country’ application servers are still running R5.0.8.
Since the upgrade of the mail servers on the iSeries we have been beset with problems like Insufficient Memory problems, memory leaks (we think), SCT issues, HTTP issues and BRMS issues to name a few. The fun is still continuing.
After 8 months and no resolution from IBM in regards to the Insufficient Memory problem we are now considering upgrading to a later version of Domino. My question is - which one?
We have been trying to avoid upgrading as it is a major undertaking, and we are 3/4 of the way through rolling out the clients. IBM’s constant response is to upgrade to the latest version, but we have no way of determining if all the preparation work will be for nothing.
But now we are faced with the prospect of having to upgrade. So can anyone share their good and bad experiences on any of these versions: 6.0.3, 6.0.4, 6.5.1 or 6.5.2 on an iSeries or Win32 platform? Any info would be greatfully recieved.
Does anyone also have links that I can take a look at that may just discuss the problems and fixes for each version?
Subject: Upgrading from 6.0.2CF1 on the iSeries to what version??
We are currently running 6.5.2 on an iSeries. We were at 6.0.2 CF1 when we upgraded to 6.5 then to 6.5.1 and then to 6.5.2.
What model of iSeries do you have? The only time we get Ins. Mem problems are when we end and restart the servers without clearing the shared memory (IBM has shown you how to do all this on the iSeries, right?).
We abandoned SCT back in the 6.0.1/6.0.2 releases. I remember having http issues fairly often around my 6.0.x releases and even in 6.5. I will say that 6.5.2 is MUCH better for our shop. We also run BRMS and I have never had any issues with it. You stay current on the BRMS PTFs, right?
Subject: RE: Upgrading from 6.0.2CF1 on the iSeries to what version??
Hi Chris,
First, thanks for the response.
On the Insufficient Memory issue - no IBM have not told us anything about clearing shared memory. They even struggled to identify the pool. I would be interested to discuss that with you further - possibly offline. I would like to know who you had dealing with it, they may be able to shed some light on it for our IBM techies. They are currentl;y trying to reproduce it on a test box. I want to know what is causing it, where it is writing to and then we can fix it. IBM hasnt been able to tell us any of that in 8 months.
As for SCT - it is actually working. we just get some strange design errors in the log. I have recently read that it is a problem in 6.0.2 CF1, and some Design UNID errors are fixed in 6.0.3 and above. Another issue we have noticed is that the OOO agent resets itself each night after the design task runs. That could be related to the UNID error as the fix list states that in 6.0.2 CF1 the UNID of the OOO is hard coded.
The HTTP issues are happening with and without SCT. So normail mail6.ntf and sctmail6.ntf. The problem seems to be with HTTP and LZ1 compression.
Yep, we are up to date on the BRMS PTF’s etc… But we are wary of all new PTF’s because IBM gave us a diagnostic one to put on to troubleshoot above mentioned Insuff Mem problem, and it made our servers bounce a cumulative total of about 400 times in 12 hours (9 servers)
As for the upgrade, I would be interested in your environment size and experiences in the upgrades. If you wouldn’t mind sharing them!
Subject: RE: Upgrading from 6.0.2CF1 on the iSeries to what version??
Michael, I also sent you an e-mail.
I posted the following on the forum back in April for someone else having insufficient memory problems:
The problem is with the shared memory not being cleared. I usually will only see the memory problems when I have a server crash or if I take all the servers down and restart them. I always clear the shared memory, etc… if I am restarting all of my servers.
Here is how you clean it up without having to IPL.
1 - End the domino server(s). (If you delete the shared memory while the server is up then it will shut down that notes server in a “panic” mode. Trust me, I’ve done this before!)
2 - Open iSeries Navigator and go to your Domino iSeries
3 - Expand Application Development
4 - Expand Interprocess Communication
5 - Double-Click Shared Memory and delete all entries for Owner Qnotes
6 - Double-Click Semaphoer Sets and delete all entries for Owner Qnotes
7 - Double-Click Kernel Message Queues and delete all entries for Owner Qnotes.
That will clear the Insufficient Memory error messages. (at least it does for us…)
You may also want to check out the following e-mail list - Domino400 Info Page There are many good iSeries guys on that list and also some IBM technicians will chime in from time to time.
Subject: RE: Upgrading from 6.0.2CF1 on the iSeries to what version??
Guys, great great input. I’m planning to upgrade 6.0.3 on iSeries V5R2 to 6.5.2 or 6.5.3. I’m quite new to the Domino world and little nervous. I plan to delete the program and install 6.5.2 over its old location. I also run into a little dilema, Do you guys have any suggestion regarding upgrading notes clients 5.12 to 6.5.2? I have user run notes installed on the server, and a few run it local.
But we are wary of all new PTF’s because IBM gave us a diagnostic one to put on to troubleshoot above mentioned Insuff Mem problem, and it made our servers bounce a cumulative total of about 400 times in 12 hours (9 servers)