Question
You are encountering numerous
hangs or periodic slowdowns on your Lotus Domino server running on a Windows
system, and have been advised by IBM Support to run frequent NSDs, also
referred to as "back-to-back" NSDs.
Is there a way to do this
without having to continually close the NSD windows (which ultimately forces a
restart of Domino)?
Answer
It is possible to run periodic
NSDs while the Domino server is up and running. The steps to do so vary by
Windows platform (as well as version of NSD) and are outlined below.
Windows 2003, 2008 & XP
Windows 2003, 2008 and Windows
XP allows for a debugger to detach from the process without terminating that
process.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If
still attached, you must issue the NSD command "detach" before
exiting NSD.
1. Open a DOS Prompt window and
change directories to your Domino\data directory
2. Execute NSD. You will need
specify the explicit path to nsd.exe, which is normally found in the Domino
program directory.
3. NSD will run and write
information to the console. When it finishes execution, depending on the
version of NSD you are running, NSD will display its own command prompt
"nsd>". Do NOT exit NSD (by either closing the command prompt
window, or typing exit).
4. Periodically, at the time of
the slowdown, or as directed by IBM Support, type the word "DUMP" in
the NSD window. This will result in the collection of call stacks an additional
time by NSD. Other sections of data may be gathered such as
"memcheck" by issuing the appropriate command.
By leaving the original NSD
window open, you have the opportunity to capture NSDs when the server is
running efficiently and when it is not.
Versions of NSD
In versions of NSD prior to
Notes/Domino 7.0.2, on Windows 2003, 2008 & XP, NSD will still remain
attached to all processes, but you can detach from all processes using the
"detach" command at the NSD prompt.
Beginning in Notes/Domino 7.0.2,
NSD will automatically detach from all processes on Windows 2003, 2008 &
XP. If you wish to remain attached, you may use the NSD -monitor switch, and
issue the command "detach" when you are ready to quit NSD.
NSD Log Results
The output of each execution of
NSD will be written to the IBM_Technical_Support directory, relative to your
Domino\Data directory. In cases where you execute back-to-back dumps before
exiting NSD, the data from each subsequent dump will be appended to the same
NSD file. In cases where NSD automatically detaches from Notes/Domino on
Windows 2003, 2008 & XP, multiple NSD files will be generated. You will
need to provide each NSD to the Software Engineer you are working with.
