Error on Novell with Only 51 Directories Specified for Search

ID: Q110218

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

If you are using Novell 3.11 and you access a Novell network drive from the Word version 6.0 for Windows File Find dialog box, you may receive the following error message: 

   1.1.90 You exceeded your outstanding NCP directory search.
When this error is displayed, only one directory on the network drive and its subdirectories are listed.

CAUSE

Novell 3.11 can be configured to set the maximum number of NetWare Core Protocol (NPC) directory searches that can be processed at the same time. This parameter is: 

   Maximum Outstanding NCP Searches = <number>
A NetWare 3.11 server can have between 10 and 1000 directory searches opened simultaneously, depending on how it is configured; the default is 51. If you have more than this number of search operations simultaneously occurring, the error message noted above is displayed. You may also have problems with invalid directory information.

WORKAROUNDS

The system administrator can change the maximum setting for the NCP searches using one of the two methods listed below. To view the current configuration for the SET parameters:

1. At the command prompt on the Novell network server that is causing the 

   error message noted above, type "set" (without the quotation marks), and
   then press ENTER.

   The Setable configuration parameter categories are displayed.
2. Select the Miscellaneous group by pressing 9 and then pressing ENTER.

3. Choose to view the normal and advanced parameters by pressing Y. 

   NOTE: If you press ENTER, only the normal parameters are displayed. The
   parameter that needs to be set is an advanced parameter.

Method 1: Using the SET Command from the Command Prompt

Type the following at the command prompt on the Novell network server that is causing the error message noted above, and then press ENTER 

   set maximum outstanding ncp searches = <number>
where <number> is between 10 and 1000.

The set statement 

  set maximum outstanding ncp searches = 200
will set the maximum number of directory searches to 200 only for the current session; this setting is lost when you restart the server. If you use this method, you must type this command each time you restart the server.

Method 2: Modifying the AUTOEXEC.CNF file with the Novell INSTALL Utility

At the network server that is causing the error message noted above:

1. Type "load install" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command 

   prompt and then press ENTER.
2. Select "System Options."

3. Select "Edit AUTOEXEC.CNF file."

4. Switch to the drive where the AUTOEXEC.CNF file is located.

5. Add the SET parameter to the file: 

      set maximum outstanding ncp searches = 200
6. Save the file.

7. Type "down" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt 

   and then press ENTER to shut down the file server.
8. Reboot the file server.

For a complete description of the processes described above see the "Novell NetWare 386 System Administration" manual, pages 278-324.

REFERENCES

Novell NetWare 386 System Administration manual, pages 63-110 (INSTALL Command) and pages 278-324 (SET Command)

KBCategory: kbnetwork KBSubcategory: Additional query words: 6.0 novell winword word6 

Keywords          : kbnetwork
Version           : 6.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: July 30, 1997