[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 10:47, Vince Scimeca wrote:
> 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

my bad on this...I don't believe it is an office service pack you need,
but after installing W2K SP4 it looks for the office install.  We have
this on our network for most people but ran into this issue with people
who did not have office installed off the network.  Sorry for the
confusion.

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