================================================================================
Note 3.8                        Run-Time problems                        8 of 19
VXCERN::TIMBL "Tim Berners-Lee CERN/DD"              15 lines   7-DEC-1987 12:20
                    -< "Device inactive" on VMS misleading >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The RPC system can give a misleading error message in the case where
    there is a problem setting the ethernet channel characteristics.
    The actual error is, for example, 'exceded quota', and is only
    visible if you set the trace on.  Unfortunatly, the fatal error
    is produced later, and 'device inactive' is the exit status.
    
    When you are using ethernet channels, the consumption of "BYTLIM"
    quota (the maximum amount of unpaged buffer memory  you process
    is allowed) is quite great.  Therefore, 20k was useful, for example,
    to run TARGET.EXE with version 2.0 of RPC.  This is reduced for
    version 2.1 to about a third.
                                 
    Conclusion: if you get "device incative", check the trace for
    "exceded quota" and then check and if necessary raise your BYTLIM
    quota.  (You will have to ask your friendly system manager).