Microsoft KB Archive/125934

= PATCH.EXE Fails When Launched by PCMSVC32.EXE =

Article ID: 125934

Article Last Modified on 10/27/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q125934





SYMPTOMS
The Release Notes for Systems Management Server version 1.0 give instructions for using SMS to distribute updated files to Windows NT 3.5 Servers. These instructions include:


 * Creating a package using PATCH.PDF and PATCH.EXE supplied with SMS.
 * Setting the command line properties for the Windows NT redirector patch to "System (Background) Task" and "Automated Command Line." NOTE: This implies that the PCM service can execute this.
 * Creating a "Run Command On Workstation" job to run the executable on the servers.

This procedure works fine when the job is executed by PCMWIN32.EXE. However PATCH.EXE fails if it is executed by the Package Command Manager Service PCMSVC32.EXE. The PACMAN.LOG file will display something similar to the following. sleeping 60 minutes SMS PCM Service Started CWinstService::ReadIniFile ReadIniFile: OK     ReadIniFile: Parsing the INI file. Check current server\share Results Location \\CSARWEN\SMS_SHR\despoolr.box SMS PCM Service Running = TRUE working................................. SMS PCM Service::Refresh Refresh: Getting server name Refresh: Looking for file: \\CSARWEN\SMS_SHR\pcmins.box\YAO01000.INS Refresh: Packages before filter:1 Begin SetRegData Value = YAO000R Data = New End SetRegData Refresh: Packages after filter: 1 installing package SMS 1.0 Patch............... SMS PCM Service::RunJob Process died, cleaning up. Begin SetRegData Value = YAO000R Data = Executed End SetRegData Begin WriteCommissarRecord Results Location is: \\CSARWEN\SMS_SHR\despoolr.box ISV MIF is: End WriteCommissarRecord sleeping 60 minutes The PCM service is limited to packages that do not require user input and do not display windows on the server. PATCH.EXE does not require user input, but it does write to the screen. If you attempt to get around this by redirecting the output from PATCH.EXE to a file, the PCM service will still report that the process died, and the file will list the following error:

PATCH: the "windir" environment variable was not set



MORE INFORMATION
Below are excerpts from the instructions given by the Release Notes for using SMS to distribute Windows NT Server patches.   Patching Windows NT Server(TM) on the Site Server

For the Windows NT update, the files and the utility program PATCH.EXE are located in the PATCHES\NT subdirectory of the SMS CD-ROM. For the Windows for Workgroups update, the files and the utility program PATCH.EXE are located in the PATCHES\WFW subdirectory of the SMS CD-ROM.

To use the PDF, perform the following steps:

1. Set up the package source directory:

a. Create a package source directory.

b. Create an NT subdirectory and a WFW subdirectory beneath the package source directory.

c. Copy all the files from the PATCHES\NT directory on the SMS CD-ROM to the NT subdirectory of the package source directory.

d. Copy all the files from the PATCHES\WFW directory on the SMS CD- ROM to the WFW subdirectory of the package source directory.

2. Create a package. When you do so, import the PDF by choosing the Import button in Package Properties, then choosing PATCHRDR.PDF from the list.

3. Choose the Workstations button.

4. In the source directory box, type the path to the package source directory you created in step 1.

5. Select Windows NT Patch of Redirector and choose the Properties button.

6. In the Command Line Properties dialog box, select both the Automated Command Line and System (Background) Task options.

7. Choose OK to close all the open dialog boxes.

8. Create Run Command On Workstation jobs to run the appropriate package command on the appropriate computers.



WORKAROUND
Use PCMWIN32.EXE to execute the job, or run PATCH.EXE manually from the PATCHESNT directory on the SMS CD-ROM.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: sms prodsms

Keywords: kbnetwork kbpcm KB125934

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