ASIP 6.0 Training

ASIP 6.1 Overview

Installation & Use: ASIP 6.1 New Features

 

 

 

updated: 9/11/98

 

 

 


Installation & Use

AppleShare IP First Aid Tool

AppleShare IP First Aid Tool is a utility being shipped for the first time to assist server administrators in verifying, reconstructing, and backing up the key files used for maintaining access privileges to the server: the Users & Groups data file, and the volumes' PDS files. For details on how these files work together to maintain privileges, see the related topic on How Privileges are Stored.

How to use the AppleShare IP First Aid Tool

Verifying, reconstructing, and backing up

  • Restart with extensions off. Before attempting to use the ASIP First Aid Tool, quit all open applications and restart the server with the shift key down to turn off extensions. This keeps other applications from using the Users & Groups Data file; when this file is busy, the ASIP First Aid Tool cannot read from it.

  • Launch the ASIP First Aid Tool.



  • Back up your files first, by selecting the "Backup..." button and selecting the volume whose information you want to backup (backup each volume separately). This is a wise precaution, especially before you attempt a reconstruction. The data from the Users & Groups data file and the access privileges for that volume will be preserved in a file on your harddrive, that can then be used to restore the data at a later date.



  • Verify the PDS files. Each read/write volume on your desktop will have a PDS file, even if no data on that volume is shared with your users. After selecting the "Verify PDS" button, you'll be asked to select the volume you want to check. Verify each volume in turn. Reconstruct if problems are found, as indicated in the report below.


  • Verify the Users & Groups Data file. Again, you'll be prompted to select which file to verify; be sure to select the file that is in the current startup disk's System Folder:Preferences folder.

Making PDS files visible.

The ASIP First Aid utility also allows you to make PDS visible or invisible. Select the option you want from the Utilities menu, then select the appropriate volume. (The Appleshare PDS file, normally invisible, is located at the root level of each local read/write volume on the server\s desktop.)

 

 

When to use the AppleShare IP First Aid Tool

You can use the AppleShare IP Tool on the following occasions to keep your server functioning properly. Remember that not all file corruption can be corrected with the tool.

 

  • Use the ASIP First Aid tool to periodically back up your Users & Groups data file and PDS files. In addition to performing this task as part of routine server maintenance, it would be especially wise before upgrading the server's OS, installing new hardware, or doing a clean install.

  • Whenever you have unexplained problems at the server, such as freezing or trouble with clients accessing it, verify the state of the Users & Groups data file and PDS files. Corruption in either of these files can cause problems accessing the server.

  • If the time it takes for the server to start up is very long, or the server simply never finishes starting up, verify the Users & Groups and PDS files; corruption in these files can cause problems when the server is checking the integrity of server information at start up.

This is the end of the ASIP 6.1 materials in the training. Use the SiteMap to verify that you've visited every page of interest to you, and be sure to check the Read Me files and other online documentation for late-breaking news.