Jeff,
   We have a somewhat similar setup, but do not run into the same problems,
at least not knowingly :-)  We do have more Novell servers which need to try
more than once (than say Unix servers), or get interrupted with a
Network-timeout type error, which most often points back to an NLM.  But we
don't have a lot of start-up abends.  We may not have as many NW servers as
you though, so I am interested in any resolution you may come to.  Here are
some of our specifics:
NB 3.2 GA (soon to be 3.4)
About 50 Novell servers, various releases, some, but not all NDS.
Novell servers split over two non NDS classes (basically split by whether
they are in our outside the computer room). and an NDS class.
Classes are MPX'ed to 15 for all incrementals and NDS, and 5 (computer room,
which are often a bit faster) and 8 (outside computer room).
The MPX setting was arrived at by adjusting the schedules based on empirical
experience, not rigourous analysis, but in practise works pretty well.

I hope this helps, and as I said, I'd be interested in what you find out
further....Gerrit

Jeff Kennedy wrote:

> I have had to create a seperate class for each and every Novell server
> in my datacenter.  The reason is that if all of them are in the same
> class, when it fires up several of them abend.  If they are in a
> seperate class they do not.  My Novell admins are saying it's because
> the backups start at the same time, causing NDS issues because the
> backup user logs into all the machines at the same time.
>
> 2 things then:
>
> 1) Can anyone out there with Novell and NBU experience confirm this is
> the case?  I want to make sure it's not just because I'm on an ancient
> burial ground.
>
> 2) Is there a way to have clients in the same class start at different
> times?  (I don't think so but I have to ask)
>
> These guys said they had the same problem with Backup Exec so it seems a
> 99% probability it's a Novell problem and not an NBU one.
>
> Thanks.
> --
> =====================
> Jeff Kennedy
> Unix Administrator
> AMCC
> jlkennedy AT amcc DOT com
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