Network Assistant 4: Difficulties With Copy Hard Disk and Copy Items Commands

Symptom

When using Network Assistant 4 to copy items or an entire hard disk, an unexpected disconnection occurs. An alert box with a message may also appear.

 

 

Solution

Follow these steps in order until the issue is resolved. In addition to these steps, you should download and install the Network Assistant 4.0.5 update. This is available at Apple Software Downloads (http://www.apple.com/swupdates/).

 

Step 1: Check Mac OS and Network Assistant Software

Make sure all client and admin workstations have the appropriate versions of Mac OS system software and Network Assistant software. For more information on this topic, refer to technical document 25103: "Network Assistant: Supported Versions and Configurations"

Step 2: Check Port Numbers

If there is a router or firewall on your network, verify that UDP port 3283 is open. Network Assistant uses this port for IP communication with clients. For AppleTalk connections, Network Assistant uses DDP socket 39 to communicate with clients.

Network Assistant does not manage clients that are connected through Network Address Translation (NAT). To manage these clients, connect them directly to your network or join these networks with a dedicated router (gateway). For more information on port numbers and NAT, refer to technical document 31131: "Apple Network Assistant: Important Information".

Step 3: Use Disk First Aid

Use Disk First Aid on the admin and client computers; repair any "errors" found by Disk First Aid.

Network Assistant admin can check and repair Mac OS 9 client hard disks remotely. Follow these steps to use this feature:

1. Select the client(s).

2. Choose Disk Verification from the Report menu.

3. Click to enable the "Try to fix disk errors" option.

4. Click Get Report.

If the report indicates that certain repairs could not be made, you must start up the client workstation(s) from a known-good disk (for example, a system software CD) and attempt to repair the affected hard disk.

Step 4: Quit All Applications

Quit all applications on the client workstation(s) before attempting the copy operation. This can be done remotely with Network Assistant by selecting the client workstation(s), then choosing Quit Applications from the Manage menu.

Step 5: Delete Network Assistant Preferences

On each affected admin and client workstation, drag the Network Assistant Preferences file, located in the Preferences folder, to the Trash.

Important: When you delete the preferences file from a workstation, its passwords must be reset. On client workstations, use the Network Assistant Security application to change the password and re-enable administrator control. The Network Assistant admin application allows you to change its password and recreate your Network Assistant Workstation Lists.

Step 6: Perform System Extensions Troubleshooting

Perform system extensions troubleshooting on the affected admin and client workstations. For more information on this topic, refer to technical document 30929: "Mac OS: Extension Conflict Troubleshooting/Extensions Manager Features"

Step 7: Install Network Assistant Admin on Another Workstation

Install the Network Assistant admin application on another workstation and use it as the copy source.

Step 8: Isolate Potential Network Issues

Try using a different network protocol. For example, if you are using TCP/IP, try using AppleTalk. For more information on forcing Network Assistant to use a different network protocol, refer to technical document 60873: "Network Assistant: Troubleshooting by Forcing a Connection Using AppleTalk or TCP/IP"

If using a different protocol does not reveal the source of the issue, try reducing the number of clients to whom you are simultaneously copying. If limiting the number of clients does not resolve the issue, try to isolate the issue by limiting the tested clients and admin workstation to a particular subnet or physical network segment and then utilizing a decreasing number or clients. If the issue persists, set up an isolated network and continue testing.

If your Network Assistant clients are connected through AirPort, refer to technical document 88165: "Network Assistant 4: Using Apple Network Assistant on an AirPort Network". It offers recommendations on where to connect your Network Assistant admin workstation and suggestions on AirPort Base Station configuration.

If any of these actions in Step 8 resolve the issue, try to determine if network topology and other associated network setup issues are the source of this issue.

 

Additional recommendations

If issues persist, try the following:

1. If clients are Macintosh Manager/Multiple Users clients, log in with System Access prior to attempting the copy.

2. If you are trying to copy an entire hard disk to several Network Assistant workstations, copy only the System Folder first, then copy all other items.

3. Erase the Network Assistant client's hard disk before attempting the Network Assistant copy.

4. Try using a volume other than the admin workstation's startup volume as the copy source. If another local volume is not available, use Disk Copy to create a disk image of the startup volume and use it as the copy source. Note: You must start up from a CD to make an image of the startup volume.

5. If the Network Assistant client computers are connected through AirPort, experiment with the multicast and density settings for the best performance. Generally, better performance can be achieved with a "High" density setting and a multicast rate of 11 Mb. Note: The Network Assistant admin workstation should be connected to the wired Ethernet network.

6. Schedule the copying of hard disks over a longer period of time rather than copying all disks at once. This reduces network traffic, which can increase significantly with simultaneous disk copies.

Example of scheduling

The following is an example of how to schedule a copy using Network Assistant 4. Scheduling works with Mac OS 9 clients with Network Assistant 4.0 or later installed. For Mac OS 8 clients, update to Network Assistant 4.0.4 or later to use scheduling.

Schedule a few clients at a time (five to ten). If issues arise, then reduce the number of clients and create another scheduled time for other clients.

In this example, we delete all other items on the client's startup disk and then copy the following items:

• Applications (Mac OS 9)
• Documents
• Late Breaking News
• System Folder

Follow these steps:

1. Create a new user on an AppleShare (AFP) server ("ANA User" in this example).

2. Create a new share point on the same AFP server ("ANA Update" in this example), giving the ANA User read-write access.

3. Open Network Assistant admin on the computer that is to be copied (or cloned).

4. Connect to the ANA Update share point, authenticating as the ANA User.

5. In the Network Assistant admin, select the workstation(s) you would like to schedule.

6. Choose Schedule from the Server menu.

7. In the Schedule window, be sure that ANA Update is the selected server.

8. Enter the name and password information for the ANA User.

9. Set the desired scheduled time, and select the "Copy items from server" option. You may enable other options, but they are not required.

10. Click the Select button that becomes available after enabling the "Copy items from server."

11. In the Select Items dialog, navigate to the following items in the Available items list:
• Applications (Mac OS 9)
• Documents
• Late Breaking News
• System Folder
12. Add each of these items to the "Items to copy" list.

13. Navigate the "Items to copy" list to the NA Copy Items folder, and select the "Delete other items on disk" option. Because this action only applies to that folder, you must repeat this step for the "Applications (Mac OS 9)", the Documents folder, and the System Folder.

14. Click Done in the Select Items window. A dialog appears, asking if you are sure you want to permanently delete all items on the selected workstations except for the System Folder. Select Yes if you are sure.

15. You are now back at the Schedule window. Double-check the values here. When you are sure they are correct, click Change.

Once the client's time reaches the designated time, the copy process begins. If you select Now for the scheduled time, then the process begins when you click Change in step 15.

Notes

1. Deleting items takes place prior to copying and may take some time to complete. If this occurs when the AFP server is configured to disconnect idle users, clients may be disconnected while they are still deleting items. In this event, the process will not complete until you change the idle disconnect feature to a longer value or disable it.

2. To ensure clients have the same contents in these nested folders, be sure to navigate to these folders in the "Items to copy" list and select the "Delete other items on disk" option for each nested folder (Step 13). This setting is specific to each folder and does not apply to all folders unless explicitly set to do so.

3. If a client misses a scheduled event, the client will perform the steps as soon as it is available to do so.