I use NFS to minimize the multiple instances of the files.  When the
server that NFS is on isn't reachable, I see exactly the same kind of
problems.  Are you running anything with NFS (especially with your new
server as a client?).

That's my only experience with this kind of problems....

Mike Cheponis wrote:
> 
> > >  It would
> > > -seem- as if inetd was able to spawn ftpd, since I at least get the
> > > "Connected to" message back, but I don't get the FTP banner back.
> 
> > No, the "connected to" message is printed when the TCP socket is established -
> > all what's needed for this on the remote machine happens in the kernel (it's
> > a syn/ack sequence).
> 
> OK.
> 
> > > Plus, not being able to log into the console directly seems very strange.
> 
> > > Clearly, I've not been able to see what processes were running at that time.
> 
> > No ddb on the machine ? On the console you could enter it via 'ctrl-alt-esc'
> > and then type 'ps' to see what's running.
> 
> Yikes, yes, next time I'll 'ctrl-alt-esc' to see what's running (blush!)
> 
> > > I was running two tasks to test the machine's reliability, which
> > > compiled, gzipped, deleted the .o file and then looped using C and f77.  And
> >
> > Didn't you see anything strange in top ?
> 
> Unfortunately, all my windows into that machine were minimized when it
> crashed, and I didn't see anything unusual when I maximized the (now dead)
> windown running top.
> 
> Next time it happens, I'll work to collect more clues.  Thanks -Mike