KB185548 - Netscape Server Extension Install Fails Due to Permissions

Article ID: 185548

Article Last Modified on 10/22/2003

Microsoft FrontPage 97 Standard Edition
Microsoft FrontPage 98 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q185548

SYMPTOMS

After you uninstall the FrontPage Extensions from a Netscape server and then reinstall, the installation fails with the following error message:

Server Error: This server does not support restricting end-user access.

CAUSE

This problem occurs after you attempt to set the FrontPage permissions on the root Web to Registered Users Only, prior to uninstalling and reinstalling the extensions.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft FrontPage 97 for Windows and Microsoft FrontPage 98 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

The third-party product discussed here is manufactured by Netscape Communications Corporation, a company independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

MORE INFORMATION

After a failed attempt to set the FrontPage permissions to Registered Users Only for the FrontPage Web, the value within the FrontPage Web's configuration files is not reset to a supported default value.

When you attempt to set a Web to allow registered end users only, FrontPage alters a value in the FrontPage Web's /_vti_pvt/svcacl.cnf file to:

   ValidEndUsers:true

This value, if left unaltered, prohibits subsequent reinstallation of the FrontPage Server Extensions.

Restricting end user access to a Netscape Web server is not supported by FrontPage for reasons described in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

170235 End User Permissions Disabled on Netscape Server

Note that this value, when present in the _vti_pvt directories of sub Webs, does not prevent reinstallation of the extensions. Only if this value is in the _vti_pvt/svcacl.cnf file of the root Web does it prevent reinstallation.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do the following:

Edit the FrontPage Web's _vti_pvt/svcacl.cnf file to say:
```
   ValidEndUsers:false
						
```
Close and save the FrontPage Web's _vti_pvt/svcacl.cnf file.
You should now be able to reinstall the extensions.

Keywords: kbbug kbnofix KB185548