Repairing Replicas

Repairing a replica consists of checking each object in the replica for consistency with the schema, and checking each attribute of the object for consistency with the schema and the data according to the syntax of the attribute. Other internal data structures associated with the replica are also checked.

Use the Replica Repair Wizard to perform the following operations:


Repairing All Replicas

This operation repairs all of the replicas displayed in the replica table.

If you have not performed a Local Database Repair operation on the local eDirectory database within the last 30 minutes, you should do so before performing this operation. See Performing a Local Database Repair for more information.

  1. In Novell iManager, click the Roles and Tasks button Roles and Tasks button.

  2. Click eDirectory Maintenance Utilities > Replica Repair.

  3. Specify the server that will perform the operation, then click Next.

  4. Specify a user name, password, and context for the server where you will perform the operation, then click Next.

  5. Click Repair All Replicas, then click Start.

  6. Follow the online instructions to complete the operation.


Repairing Selected Replicas

This operation repairs only the selected replica listed in the replica view.

If you have not performed a Local Database Repair operation on the local eDirectory database within the last 30 minutes, you should do so before performing this operation. See Performing a Local Database Repair for more information.

  1. In Novell iManager, click the Roles and Tasks button Roles and Tasks button.

  2. Click eDirectory Maintenance Utilities > Replica Repair.

  3. Specify the server that will perform the operation, then click Next.

  4. Specify a user name, password, and context for the server where you will perform the operation, then click Next.

  5. Click Repair the Selected Replica, then click Next.

  6. Specify the replica you want to repair, then click Start.

  7. Follow the online instructions to complete the operation.


Repairing Time Stamps

NOTE:  Before using this operation, use the Sync Repair Wizard to make sure that all servers in the replica ring are communicating properly. See Performing Synchronization Operations for more information.

This operation provides a new point of reference to the master replica so that all updates to replicas of the selected partition are current.

This operation is always performed on the master replica of a partition. The master replica does not need to be the local replica on this server.

Time stamps are placed on objects when they are created or modified, and they must be unique. All time stamps in a master replica are examined. If any time stamps are postdated to the current network time, they are replaced with a new time stamp. If the time stamp is current, a new time stamp is not issued. After all time stamps are consistent in time, a new epoch is declared.

Use this operation if you notice a discrepancy between objects in a replica or in an object's properties. For example, if you update your login script but your old login script still appears when logging in, you should check to ensure that replicas are synchronizing properly. If the differences between the time stamps in the future and the current time is not more than minutes, eDirectory will eventually correct the condition by itself. Declaring a new epoch is a very expensive operation, and should not be used regularly.

Novell eDirectory is a loosely consistent database, so you should allow for five to ten minutes before checking replica synchronization. This operation results in the following conditions:

To repair time stamps and declare a new epoch:

  1. In Novell iManager, click the Roles and Tasks button Roles and Tasks button.

  2. Click eDirectory Maintenance Utilities > Replica Repair.

  3. Specify the server that will perform the operation, then click Next.

  4. Specify a username, password, and context for the server where you will perform the operation, then click Next.

  5. Click Repair Timestamps and Declare a New Epoch, then click Next.

  6. Follow the online instructions to complete the operation.


Designating This Server As the New Master Replica

This operation designates the local replica of the selected partition as the master replica. You can use this operation to designate a new master replica if the original one is lost. A master can be lost if the server that contains the master replica has a hard disk failure and must be replaced.

Do not use this option to perform the normal partition operations available in Novell iManager. For more information, see Managing Partitions and Replicas.

  1. In Novell iManager, click the Roles and Tasks button Roles and Tasks button.

  2. Click eDirectory Maintenance Utilities > Replica Repair.

  3. Specify the server you want to designate as the new master replica, then click Next.

  4. Specify a user name, password, and context to authenticate to the server, then click Next.

  5. Click Designate This Server As the New Master Replica, then click Next.

  6. Follow the online instructions to complete the operation.


Destroying the Selected Replica

Use this operation to remove the selected replica from this server. The replica will be deleted or changed to a subordinate reference.

Do not use this option to perform the normal partition operations available in Novell iManager. For more information, see Managing Partitions and Replicas.

  1. In Novell iManager, click the Roles and Tasks button Roles and Tasks button.

  2. Click eDirectory Maintenance Utilities > Replica Repair.

  3. Specify the server containing the replica you want to destroy, then click Next.

  4. Specify a user name, password, and context to authenticate to the server, then click Next.

  5. Click Destroy the Selected Replica, then click Next.

  6. Specify the replica you want to destroy, then click Next.

  7. Follow the online instructions to complete the operation.