NetWorker error message:   RPC error: Timed out

Ever been in a position when you get an error message like the one above, there’s not much detail so you’re not certain which part of the NetWorker installation is failing, or which NetWorker process is generating the error? You’ve checked, and there’s nothing in the administrator’s guide or the release supplements and you have no other reference to help you to understand what it might mean?

It might be useful to know that in this instance, a request made to the NetWorker server was not completed because the remote procedure call (RPC) services timed out for what could be any one of the following reasons:

• Resources have exceeded the NetWorker server’s limit.

• The nsrd service aborted the process.

• Network errors are occurring so the save program cannot open a backup session.

• The Network Interface Card (NIC) failed.

• There is insufficient memory.

So what about a resolution then, what steps might I take to go about fixing the problem?

• Try the requested operation again.

• Verify that the network protocols are functioning properly. Test by running ping.

• Use rpcinfo to verify that the backup and recovery sessions can be established, and that the portmapper    or rpcbind service is functioning properly. For operating systems that do not include the rpcinfo utility, it

is provided on the Legato product CD.

• Shut down and restart the NetWorker services.