[omniORB] COMM_FAILURE when invoking _nonexistent() on object

[Kirkpatrick, James E]

I have set up a server object and registered it with the name service
(verified through nameclt).

I kill the server process, and THEN run a client which looks up the object
in the name service and performs a _non_existent() operation on the object
reference returned from the name service.  This is to simulate the
possibility of a producer - consumer situation in which a client attempts to
use a "dead" server object.

Instead of the the expected TRUE return value from _non_existent(), or
possibly a TRANSIENT exception, I'm catching a COMM_FAILURE exception.

I've also tried adding a "ping()" operation to the server interface (as
described in Henning & Vinoski, pp 254 - 256).  Instead of catching the
OBJECT_NOT_EXIST exception, I'm still getting the COMM_FAILURE exception.

I don't understand why the orb is throwing COMM_FAILURE in this situation.  

I've looked through the last year's worth of the list archives.  There was a
similar question on 4 Aug 2000, but no answer was posted.  I would
appreciate any help clearing this up.

Thanks,
  JK