[Samba] Windows 2000 workstations can't open Excel files on Samba-2.2.7(a?) after "ServicePack-ing 4" on them.

[Vince Scimeca]

On Fri, 2003-10-03 at 10:06, Kurt Pfeifle wrote:
> Hi, Samba-friends
> 
> I am not very deep in Samba *file* services, so please bear with me.
> 
> The network admins of my employer alarmed me (being the local "Linux
> Guy") with this problem:
> 
> * they run a 2-node fileserver cluster, based on RedHat (version?)
>    with a Samba version announcing itself "2.2.7-security-rollout"
>    or similar.
> 
> * Samba runs in a chrooted environment. It was set up and configured
>    by some external contractor. Everything run smoothly and stable
>    until recently.
> 
> * The now have upgraded 100 Windows 2000 workstations to ServicePack
>    4 (after some testing, they say).
> 
> * Now these workstations' users can't open any Excel files on the Samba
>    shares any more. The error message speaks about "missing memory".
> 
> * If they copy the files to the local box, they are able to open
>    them. The files also do open after being copied over to the previous
>    WinNT 4.0 file server, which was resurrected now for the purpose.
> 
> I was able to have a look at it last night. I took notes about versions,
> config settings etc, but   - rats! -  left the paper in the server room,
> so I can't be much more specific at the momeent. (My notes are locked
> in there now since it is a bank holiday in Germany.)
> 
> One strange thing is this:
> 
> --> After increasing the debuglevel to 5 (using smbcontrol), one
>      workstation could open the files. *That* connection was made as
>      "root". Decreasing debuglevel to 1, 2, 3 and 4 re-produced the
>      problem. Increasing to 5 and 10 made it go away again.
> 
> --> Trying to repeat the same from a different workstation (where
>      the connection was made as a normal user) recreated the problem,
>      but in all debuglevels, including 5 and 10.
> 
> 
> My questions:
> 
> * Is this an already known problem ?
> * What could possibly cause it? What could I do for a remedy ?
> * What exact tests could I run and what info could I give
>    (apart from the obvious smb.conf, version no. etc.) to help
>    trace it ?  [I have the log files for levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and
>    5 reflecting attempts to open the Excel files from the workstation
>    that connected as "root"].
> 
> 
> Any help and hint is much appreciated.
> Thanks for your efforts.
> Cheers, Kurt

sounds like they are using office 2000 and it needs the latest service
pack.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5C011C70-47D0-4306-9FA4-8E92D36332FE&displaylang=EN

hope this helps.

-- 
Vince Scimeca - Senior Technology Manager
Jupitermedia Corp.
vscimeca at jupitermedia.com