Novell DNS fails to start - Unable to read locator reference from NCP server

  • Document ID:7012947
  • Creation Date:25-Jul-2013
  • Modified Date:16-Oct-2013
    • Micro Focus Products:
      eDirectory
      Open Enterprise Server

Environment

Novell Open Enterprise Server 11.1 (OES11SP1)
Novell DNS

Situation

novell-named fails to start

The /var/opt/novell/log/named/named.run log shows the following

25-Jul-2013 13:33:55.412 general: main: notice: starting BIND 9.3.2 -u named
25-Jul-2013 13:33:55.413 general: server: info: found 2 CPUs, using 2 worker threads
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.457 general: dns/db: critical: Unable to read locator reference from NCP server
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.457 general: dns/db: critical: Failed to load RRs of rootserver zone with error -10
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.457 general: dns/hints: warning: Loading Root data from directory Failed
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.458 general: server: info: loading configuration from '/etc/opt/novell/named/named.conf'
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.458 config: isccfg/parser: error: none:0: open: /etc/opt/novell/named/named.conf: file not found

Resolution

Check that the DNS Server object exists.
It should have been created in the same context as the NCP Server object
The name should start with DNS followed by _<servername>
Example: DNS_dsfwserver

Check that the locator object exists.
Use Console or ldapsearch to find all locator objects (TID 7005339)  Use the same TID to create a locator object if missing.
Usually the name of the locator object is DNS-DHCP.

On using the other tab in either iManager or Console One check that three attributes exist
DNIP:DNSServers
DNIP:DNSZones
DNIP:Group Reference

For DNIP:DNSServers, make sure the DNS server object is listed.  If missing add it.  If there are mutliple DNS servers in your tree their should be a DNS server value for each DNS server.

For DNIP:DNSZones, make sure the Zone that are to be managed are listed, if not add them.

For DNIP:Group Reference, make sure the DNSDHCP-GROUP object is listed.

Using the other tab in iManager or Console One edit the NCP Server object, check that two attributes exist
DNIP:DNS Server Reference
DNIP:LocatorPtr

For the DNIP:DNS Server Reference, make sure the DNS server object is listed.  If not listed add it.

For the DNIP:LocatorPtr, make sure the locator object is listed.  If not listed add it.
 
The DNSDHCP-GROUP object also needs rights to the NCP server object.  Without rights it cannot lookup the necessary information on the object.  Basic rights are as follows:
All Attributes Rights:  Compare, Read, Inherit
Entry Rights: Browse, Inherit

Start novell-named (rcnovell-named start) and tail the named.run log (tailf /var/opt/novell/named/named.run)
The service should start, if not troubleshoot the errors reported in the named.run log.
If the service fails to start it is usually because the CASA credentials are missing.  Follow TID 7006446 to recreate the CASA credentials.

Cause

The locator object is missing or mis-configured, the DNS server object is either missing or mis-configured, or the ncpserver object is mis-configured

Additional Information

The entire /var/opt/novell/log/named/named.run log

25-Jul-2013 13:33:55.412 general: main: notice: starting BIND 9.3.2 -u named
25-Jul-2013 13:33:55.413 general: server: info: found 2 CPUs, using 2 worker threads
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.457 general: dns/db: critical: Unable to read locator reference from NCP server
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.457 general: dns/db: critical: Failed to load RRs of rootserver zone with error -10
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.457 general: dns/hints: warning: Loading Root data from directory Failed
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.458 general: server: info: loading configuration from '/etc/opt/novell/named/named.conf'
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.458 config: isccfg/parser: error: none:0: open: /etc/opt/novell/named/named.conf: file not found
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.459 general: server: critical: loading configuration: file not found
25-Jul-2013 13:33:57.459 general: server: critical: exiting (due to fatal error)
25-Jul-2013 13:38:56.609 general: main: notice: starting BIND 9.3.2 -u named
25-Jul-2013 13:38:56.609 general: server: info: found 2 CPUs, using 2 worker threads
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.653 general: dns/db: critical: Unable to read locator reference from NCP server
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.653 general: dns/db: critical: Failed to load RRs of rootserver zone with error -10
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.653 general: dns/hints: warning: Loading Root data from directory Failed
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.655 general: server: info: loading configuration from '/etc/opt/novell/named/named.conf'
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.655 config: isccfg/parser: error: none:0: open: /etc/opt/novell/named/named.conf: file not found
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.655 general: server: critical: loading configuration: file not found
25-Jul-2013 13:38:58.655 general: server: critical: exiting (due to fatal error)