Knowledge Base

CONN: Macintosh Desktop Database and Mail Performance

Article ID: 133430

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q133430

SYMPTOMS

When you run version 1.x of the Microsoft Mail Connection Gateway or version 3.2x of Microsoft Mail Connection for PC and AppleTalk Networks, performance may degrade over time and usage.

NOTE: Microsoft Mail Connection Gateway and Microsoft Mail Connection for PC and AppleTalk Networks are the same product; the same changed when it was updated from version 1.0 to version 3.2.

CAUSE

One possible cause is that the Macintosh's desktop file contains invalid information.

RESOLUTION

To resolve, the desktop file can easily be rebuilt with no risk to the Macintosh or mail components.

To rebuild the Macintosh desktop

  1. Hold down the COMMAND and OPTION keys and re-start the Macintosh.
  2. Continue to hold down COMMAND+OPTION until the "Would You Like to Rebuild the Desktop..." message appears.
  3. Release the COMMAND+OPTION keys and click OK. The rebuild process will begin and end automatically.

    NOTE: Comments manually entered in the Get Info dialog box from the File menu will be discarded in the process.

MORE INFORMATION

The Macintosh desktop is a hidden database file that contains information about files, folders, and resources stored on the local drive. When the information in the database becomes outdated and/or invalid, system processing may become noticeably slower.

Novell NetWare for Macintosh

In the Novell NetWare environments, there is a separate Macintosh desktop database that resides on the NetWare server itself. This hidden database contains essentially the same information as the Macintosh database. However, it only pertains to NetWare-to-Macintosh shared files.

If the information becomes invalid or corrupt, Macintosh clients may experience slow performance when they access a NetWare volume. You should try to rebuild the Macintosh desktop database before you try the procedure explained below, as it is more intensive and will disconnect the Macintosh NetWare clients temporarily from the Novell server.

NOTE: The NetWare Macintosh volume rebuild should take place when the Macintosh clients are not logged on to the server and accessing files. The IBM-compatible (PC) network clients will not be affected by this procedure.

To rebuild the NetWare Macintosh desktop database

  1. Unload AFP.NLM at the NetWare server console by typing the following:

    UNLOAD AFP

  2. Reload AFP.NLM at the NetWare server console by typing the following:

    LOAD AFP CDT

    The CDT option clears the existing Desktop database files and installs new database files.
  3. To rebuild the information on the new desktop files, go to any Macintosh workstation running System 6.x Finder (not MultiFinder).

    NOTE: System 7.x will not work for this procedure.
  4. Open Chooser, and select the NetWare server. Logon as SUPERVISOR, and select which volume(s) to rebuild.
  5. As the NetWare server volume(s) mount to the desktop, hold down the COMMAND+OPTION keys until prompted to confirm to rebuild the desktop.
Depending on the size of the Macintosh volume(s), the rebuild may take several minutes. After the rebuild has completed, all Macintosh NetWare clients can re-attach to the NetWare server.

For more information on NetWare Macintosh database files, see the documentation included with the Novell NetWare for Macintosh product.

Additional query words: 1.00 3.20

Keywords: KB133430


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