Thanks to those of you who've made suggestions.
Unfortunately, my ADSM nightmare continues.

I created brand new files on new disks for the database and log file :

./dsmfmt -m -db /usr/adsm/dbfs31/db310.dsm 5121
./dsmfmt -m -db /usr/adsm/dbfs32/db320.dsm 5121
./dsmfmt -m -db /usr/adsm/dbfs33/db330.dsm 5121
./dsmfmt -m -log /usr/adsm/dbfs33/log4.dsm 500

But couldn't carry with a restore db as the dsmserv format died as
all dsmserv based 'programs' have :

KSH fs-c{root}58: dsmserv format 1 /usr/adsm/dbfs33/log4.dsm 3 /usr/adsm/dbfs31
/db310.dsm /usr/adsm/dbfs32/db320.dsm /usr/adsm/dbfs33/db330.dsm
ANR7800I DSMSERV generated at 15:38:49 on Jul 22 1999.

ADSTAR Distributed Storage Manager for AIX-RS/6000
Version 3, Release 1, Level 2.40

Licensed Materials - Property of IBM

5765-C43 (C) Copyright IBM Corporation 1990, 1998. All rights reserved.
U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure
restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corporation.

ANR0900I Processing options file dsmserv.opt.
Trace/BPT trap(coredump)


Tomorrow, we start from a new AIX 4.3 machine and re-install from
scratch. We are wondering whether an AIX security patch is to
blame - so are rebuilding a system without it.

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
 Steven Bridge     Systems Group, Information Systems, EISD
                          University College London
 email: s.bridge AT ucl.ac DOT uk                   tel: +44 (0)20 7679 2794