Article ID: 161216
Article Last Modified on 6/14/2005
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.1 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q161216
SYMPTOMS
When the directory and file permissions are set to Read (RX) for the root
of drive C on a computer running Windows NT, the Systems Management Server
client setup program, Cli_nt.exe, cannot update the Sms.ini file. Even if
the group "Everyone" is given full rights to the Sms.ini file, the file
will not be updated. The following error message, indicating that Client
Setup is unable to update the Sms.ini file, will be displayed when the
application runs:
Problem opening or creating SMS.INI
CAUSE
Systems Management Server Client Setup attempts to create a temporary file
in the root of drive C with a unique file name that is determined at the
time of file creation. It will then write what will be the current contents
of the Sms.ini file to this temporary file. Once this step has been
completed, and no errors are detected, Client Setup will then copy the
temporary file to Sms.ini, and then delete the temporary file.
Because all standard user rights can be locked down in drive C (according
to Windows NT security recommendations), the Systems Management Server
inventory operation described above will fail while trying to create a new
temporary file.
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, provide 'Change (RWXD)' rights to the root of
drive C.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server
versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2. A supported fix is now available for version 1.2
only, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only
to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely
impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for
the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical
Support for more information.
MORE INFORMATION
The supported fix requires a new Cli_nt.exe file that exposes the temporary
file name created during the Sms.ini update. The new file name is Sms.new.
If this file does not exist, it will be created in the root of drive C. If
it does already exist, it will be opened and truncated. After Sms.new is
created or opened, the updated Sms.ini information is written to this file.
When this operation is completed, the file is copied back to Sms.ini. This
file is no longer be deleted, but flagged with the Hidden file attribute
instead.
Administrators can create a blank Sms.new file in a user's root directory,
assign it the appropriate rights, and then lock down all other files except
Sms.ini. This allows administrators to lock down the entire root directory
on computer running Windows NT, except for the Sms.new and Sms.ini files,
and the Systems Management Server inventory mechanism will continue to work
properly.
Additional query words: prodsms cli_nt rights
Keywords: kbinventory kbsetup KB161216