Sams Teach Yourself MCSE Windows NT Server 4 in 14 Days
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): David Schaer, et al
ISBN: 0672311283
Publication Date: 12/15/97

The driver configuration is saved in the Services subkey of the CurrentControlSet in the registry. In Figure 4.31, the cpqfws2e key holds the values for the Compaq 32-Bit Fast-Wide SCSI-2/E driver that was just added. The Start value of 0 shows that the driver will be initialized at boot time.

Figure 4.31.  The registry holds the driver configuration settings.

If the system fails to start because of an improperly configured driver, you can revert to the older configuration by choosing the Last Known Good configuration.

4.7.2. Tape Drivers

Tape drivers are installed through the Tape Devices applet in the Control Panel. The NT Backup utility is dependent on a tape device being installed, but it cannot install the driver itself.

If the tape device that is installed on your computer is on the HCL, it is possible to have the applet detect the tape device automatically. Tape device drivers can also be installed manually, as shown in Figure 4.32.

As with the SCSI adapter drivers, tape driver settings are recorded in the registry.

4.7.3. Configuring Mouse Drivers

The mouse applet in Control Panel enables the user to install and configure the pointing device. Individual users can personalize mouse functions, such as left-right buttons; however, the driver will be the same for all users of the same system. If the mouse type is not automatically detected, as in Figure 4.33, the system administrator can select the driver manually.

Figure 4.32.  Manually installing a tape device driver.

Figure 4.33.  Configuring the mouse driver.

4.7.4. Configuring the UPS Service

The UPS, or Uninterruptible Power Source, service provides the capability of monitoring a UPS by means of a serial cable connected to a COM port. The administrator must configure the UPS settings based on the hardware configuration.

The UPS service has the capability to execute a command file before performing a shutdown of the system. The command must complete within 30 seconds. Figure 4.34 shows the UPS service configured to be monitored on COM2 and a command called GoingDown.bat being executed on shutdown.

Figure 4.34.  UPS configuration dialog box.

Use the NOSERIALMOUSE parameter in your boot.ini file to prevent NT from scanning the port attached to your UPS during the boot process.

4.7.5. Diagnosing Service Start Failures

The Event Viewer is an excellent tool for diagnosing the cause of service failures. The Event Viewer enables the administrator to view the service startup events in the system log. One of the most common reasons for a service failing to start is because the service account password is wrong. Figure 4.35 shows the message that is received when the Directory Replicator service is configured with an incorrect password.

Figure 4.35.  An incorrect service account password.

The information in the error message is also recorded in the system log, as shown in Figure 4.36.

Figure 4.36.  Service start failures are recorded in the system log.

There’s an old adage: “Don’t kill the messenger for the message.” It’s a good thing to keep in mind when diagnosing service failures. Sometimes, one or more services fail to start when a single dependency service fails to start. Too frequently, administrators begin by trying to reconfigure the wrong service. If more than one service has failed to start, tracing the dependencies to the root cause of failure is important.

In Figure 4.37 the Alerter service failed to start because a dependency service, the workstation, failed to start. The workstation failed because all protocol bindings to the Workstation service were disabled.

Figure 4.37.  The Alerter service reports a dependency failure.

The Alerter service is dependent on the Workstation service starting successfully. The administrator should now investigate why the Workstation service failed to start rather than waste time troubleshooting the Alerter service.

When searching for the lowest-level dependency, go to the first failure after the Event Log service was started.

4.8. Lab

This lab will help in your learning by testing you on the information presented in this chapter, as well as by giving you exercises to hone your skills. You can find answers to the review questions in Appendix B, “Answers to Review Questions.”

4.8.1. Review Questions

Question 1

Based on Figure 4.38, on which of the following services is the Messenger service dependent?

A.  Alerter

B.  Workstation

C.  NetBIOS

D.  Server

Figure 4.38.  Exhibit for Question 1.

Question 2

Which of the following StartValue settings would be used to designate a service as disabled?

A.  0x0

B.  0x1

C.  0x2

D.  0x3

E.  0x4

Question 3

Which of the following statements are true regarding pausing the Server service?

A.  All users will be immediately disconnected from the server.

B.  The Alerter service will generate a message telling all users to disconnect from the server.

C.  Additional users will not be allowed to attach to the server.

D.  The Workstation service will be paused automatically.