Troubleshooting
Problem
Attempts to use the IBM Rational DOORS client results in the error "The connection with the database server has been lost and reconnection attempts have failed".
Symptom
While using Rational DOORS, you get the following error:
The connection with the database server has been lost and reconnection attempts have failed.
This may be due to network problems or the server may have been stopped.
DOORS will now exit.
image
Cause
This error occurs when the Rational DOORS client loses its connection to the DOORS database server for several minutes, at which point it times out.
Another cause is if the server that host the DOORS database runs out of space disk, DOORS client will receive the same error message:
The connection with the database server has been lost
Environment
Diagnosing The Problem
Isolate the problem to specific workstations. Usually, the issue is workstation specific and only happens on certain workstations.
- Attempt to reproduce the issue on a different workstation
- Attempt to reproduce the problem on the problematic workstation with another user
For each problem workstation, do the following:
- Verify that the workstation does not lose its network connectivity. Some ways this could happen:
- If using wireless, some wireless cards can be configured to conserve energy, which causes them to stop responding enough to lose network connectivity with DOORS, VPNs, etc.
- Windows power conservation settings like standby and hibernate could also have similar results.
- It is possible to configure Windows to partially shut down certain components it deems inactive -- perhaps erroneously -- to conserve energy.
- Verify that the network interfaces on this workstation are set up for "maximum performance" (or equivalent). You do not want the operating system (OS) powering them down to save energy, etc., as that could impact network responsiveness and result in timeouts, lost connections, etc.
- Port scanners may be able to cause this problem. Are any port scanners in use?
- If the problem started only recently, determine what has changed (e.g., software upgrades/changes, OS patches, configuration changes, driver updates, etc.).
- What other DOORS and/or network problems do users of the problem workstation have?
Also, make sure to check the disk space on the DOORS database server.
Resolving The Problem
Use the information gathered while diagnosing the problem to find a root cause.
In most cases, the root cause is not specific to Rational DOORS.
The most common cause is a hardware specific or operating system specific configuration and/or corruption.
This issue has been known to be resolved by a simple re-image of the problem workstation.
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Document Information
Modified date:
01 May 2020
UID
swg21443453