Q125934: PATCH.EXE Fails When Launched by PCMSVC32.EXE

Article: Q125934
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): winnt:1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork kbPCM smspcm
Last Modified: 30-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.0 
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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

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Keywords          : kbnetwork kbPCM smspcm 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS100
Version           : winnt:1.0

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