Introduction
The WAAS system consists of a set of devices called wide area application engines (WAEs) that work together to optimize TCP traffic over your network. WAAS Central Manager GUI is used to centrally configure and monitor the WAEs and application policies in your network. The Cisco WAAS uses redirect method and assignment method to move packets between router to waas and to load balance packets among WAAS respectively. The WAEs examine the traffic and use built-in application policies to determine whether to optimize the traffic or allow it to pass through your network unoptimized..
Problem
Checking the logs getting following error messages on the WAE device.
Critical Alarms:
----------------
Alarm ID Module/Submodule Instance
--------------- -------------------- ---------------
1 svcdisabled nodemgr device_mgr
May 17 11:04:36.752 EDT, Processing Error Alarm, #000014, 2000:330001
nodemgr: The device_mgr service has been disabled.
2 svcdisabled nodemgr actastor_watchdog
May 17 11:02:06.516 EDT, Processing Error Alarm, #000003, 2000:330001
nodemgr: The actastor_watchdog service has been disabled.
Explanation
The services, device_mgr and actastor_watchdog, are system services and are required. Look for following messages in the syslog to confirm the issue.
2013 May 17 12:09:13 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330040: Start service 'actastor_watchdog' using: '/sw/bin/actastor_wrapper.sh start' with pid: 7403
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS wccp: %WAAS-WCCP-5-500019: New web cache in hash compute assignment 10.1.16.254 for service 61.
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS wccp: %WAAS-WCCP-5-500019: New web cache in hash compute assignment 10.1.16.254 for service 62.
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS device_mgr_wrapper.sh:: %WAAS-CMS-4-726002 : Waiting for Watchdog readiness(attempt 2)
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330027: Process with pid 7403 exits
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330024: Service 'actastor_watchdog' exited normally with code 0
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330032: Stopping service: 'actastor_watchdog'.
2013 May 17 12:09:14 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330036: Stop service 'actastor_watchdog' using: '/sw/bin/cifs_stop_process.sh /var/run/actastor.pid
Watchdog /local/local1/errorlog/actona/Watchdog.stdout' with pid: 7912
2013 May 17 12:09:15 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330040: Start service 'actastor_watchdog' using: '/sw/bin/actastor_wrapper.sh start' with pid: 8054
2013 May 17 12:09:17 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330027: Process with pid 8054 exits
2013 May 17 12:09:17 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330024: Service 'actastor_watchdog' exited normally with code 0
2013 May 17 12:09:17 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330032: Stopping service: 'actastor_watchdog'.
2013 May 17 12:09:17 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-5-330036: Stop service 'actastor_watchdog' using: '/sw/bin/cifs_stop_process.sh /var/run/actastor.pid
Watchdog /local/local1/errorlog/actona/Watchdog.stdout' with pid: 8147
2013 May 17 12:09:17 WAAS Nodemgr: %WAAS-NODEMGR-3-330046: Stopping the service 'actastor_watchdog' because it is restarting too often.
Resolution
In case of software version 4.1.x this issue may be related to bug CSCtd60131. In other cases this issue is mostly related to an failed/incomplete upgrade.
Try to restart the services using following commands:
WAE#service restart actastor_watchdog
WAE#service restart device_mgr
If restarting the service doesn't help then reinstall the software using rescue CD on the WAE device.
Following are the steps for using the CD.
Step 1 Connect a serial console to the appliance to be upgraded and use this console connection for subsequent steps.
Step 2 Insert the recovery CD into the CD-ROM drive and reboot the appliance.
After the appliance reboots, you see the following menu:
Installer Main Menu
1. Configure Network
2. Manufacture Flash
3. Install Flash cookie
4. Install Flash image from network
5. Install Flash image from cdrom
6. Install Flash image from disk
7. Wipe out disks and install .bin image
8. Exit (and reboot)
Step 3 To prepare the Flash, choose Option 2. This option verifies the flash memory and, if invalid, automatically reformats it. If reformatting is required, a new cookie is automatically prepared.
Step 4 To install the Flash cookie,
choose Option *3*.
This option installs the Flash cookie that you prepared in the previous step.
Step 5 To install the Flash image from the CD-ROM, choose Option 5.
Step 6 To wipe the disks and install the binary image, choose Option 7.
This option prepares the disks by erasing all previous code and data from the disks. The new software is then installed.
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Note it is recommended that you run Option 7 twice, because sometimes the firstirst attempt to erase the disks is incomplete. Running Option 7 twice ensures that all previous code and data has been removed from the disks.
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Step 7 Before rebooting the appliance, manually remove the CD-ROM from the drive.
Step 8 To reboot, choose Option 8.
You may refer the following link if needed:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/app_ntwk_services/waas/waas/v521/configuration/guide/maint.html#wp1173532
Reference
Critical alarm : actastor_watchdog the service has been disabled
Maintaining Your WAAS System
