Suntools dying overnight

[S. Holmes [Consulting Detective]]

We have one of those insidious problems that you just ignore for as long
as possible.  But I have been pushed hard enough to try to find out if
possible what the problem is.

Background: SunOS4.0 on 3/50s and 3/60s.  Server is 3/280.

Problem: On some of the clients, if suntools is left running overnight,
the console is semi-locked up in the morning.  the stop key (L1) doesn't
seem to work.  Sometimes the root menu can be popped and Exit Suntools
selected.  In our environment this automatically logs the user off.
Re-logging in makes everything ok.  Sometimes the menu can't be popped and
a reboot is necessary.  I have not been given the opportunity to examine
things from an rlogin very often, but when I have it appears that cmdtool
is in device wait.  A Mailtool might also be in device wait.

Has anybody seen/solved this problem? I at least would like to see
explainations of the problem which I can pass on to unhappy customers.

Thanks,
Steve Holmes				purdue!sjh
Systems Administrator			sjh at math.purdue.edu
Dept. of Mathematics			(317) 494-6055
Purdue University
W. Lafayette, Indiana 47907