Try running the following from an OS command prompt:

   vssadmin list writers

How long does that take to run?

Next, start dsmc and let it sit. Does it *eventually* start? Let it sit
for a long time if needed.... how long does it take to start up?

Regards,

Andy

Andy Raibeck
IBM Software Group
Tivoli Storage Manager Client Product Development
Level 3 Team Lead
Internal Notes e-mail: Andrew Raibeck/Tucson/IBM@IBMUS
Internet e-mail: storman AT us.ibm DOT com

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager support web page:
http://www.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBMTivoliStorageManager.html

The only dumb question is the one that goes unasked.
The command line is your friend.
"Good enough" is the enemy of excellence.

"ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU> wrote on 2008-03-10
07:03:18:

> Hi ADSMers,
>
> I've not seen this kind of problem before - I have a Win32 client
(5.4.1.0)
> which can ping it's Solaris10 TSM server (5.4.1.2), but fails to
connect.
> Starting dsmc from the command line brings me no prompt, TSM appears to
> deliver nothing to the screen, or the dsmerror.log.
>
> So I ran a service trace and it all seems normal up to:
>
> plug-in name     : PISNAPSHOT
> Library Path     : .\plugins\pivss.dll
> plug-in Version  : 5.4.1.0
> Plugin specific-info : <Provider:VSS> <Stack Position:Volume Manager>
> <SnapFuncMap:0x00002008>
> ===========================================
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.335 [005696] [8340] : piLicense.cpp       ( 174):
> piLoadLicense() entry
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.335 [005696] [8340] : piLicense.cpp       ( 324):
> piLoadLicense() exit, no license file required
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.350 [005696] [8340] : optservices.cpp     (5368):
> poEnvVarInit: Entry
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.350 [005696] [8340] : psfsinfo.cpp        (3545):
> psGetUncName(): Enter with path 'C:\'
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.350 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          ( 761):
> VssRequestor::InitializeVss(): reqType=3, usageType=3
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.350 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          ( 832):
> VssRequestor::InitializeVss(): VSS[CreateVssBackupComponents]
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.350 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          ( 851):
> VssRequestor::InitializeVss(): VSS[InitializeForBackup]
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.366 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          ( 869):
> VssRequestor::InitializeVss(): VSS[SetBackupState]
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.366 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          (3339):
> VssQuerySystemWriters(): Entry --- querying for files to exclude from
> backup..
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.366 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          (3345):
> VSS[GatherWriterMetadata]
> 03/10/2008 13:42:13.366 [005696] [8340] : vssreq.cpp          (8407):
> VssRequestor::QueryStatus(): VSS - waiting for asynchronous operation to
> complete for caller 'VssQuerySystemWriters()'
>
> At which point (after 1 minute) I ctrl-c out and this is written:
>
>                          unknown thread        -1================>
> 03/10/2008 13:43:36.362 [005696] [8740] : psthread.cpp        (1099):
> ??????????????????????????????????????
> ??03/10/2008 13:43:36.362 [005696] [8740] : psthread.cpp        (1108):
> ConsoleEventHandler(): Cleaning up and terminating Process ...
>
> I'm unable to stop the dsmcad service through the normal method (Error
1053:
> The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely
> fashion); terminating the process from TaskManager is the only way to
stop
> it. It starts happily enough but doesn't write anything to the
> dsmerror/sched.log. Dsm.exe also does nothing.
>
> This is all I have to go on, so any help is hugely appreciated!
>
> Many Thanks,
> Matthew
>
>
> This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely
> for the addressee and may also be privileged or exempt from
> disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee, or
> have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender
> immediately, delete it from your system and do not copy, disclose or
> otherwise act upon any part of this e-mail or its attachments.
>
> Internet communications are not guaranteed to be secure or virus-free.
> The Barclays Group does not accept responsibility for any loss
> arising from unauthorised access to, or interference with, any
> Internet communications by any third party, or from the transmission
> of any viruses. Replies to this e-mail may be monitored by the
> Barclays Group for operational or business reasons.
>
> Any opinion or other information in this e-mail or its attachments
> that does not relate to the business of the Barclays Group is
> personal to the sender and is not given or endorsed by the Barclays
Group.
>
> Barclays Bank PLC.Registered in England and Wales (registered no.
1026167).
> Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP, United Kingdom.
>
> Barclays Bank PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial
> Services Authority.