KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q226894: SMS: SMS_LOCAL_DIR Must Not Exceed the Maximum of 8 Characters

Article: Q226894
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): 2.0,2.0 SP1,2.0 SP2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsms200 kbsms200bug
Last Modified: 15-NOV-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 2.0, 2.0 SP1, 2.0 SP2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

In Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0, if the environment variable
SMS_LOCAL_DIR is modified to include a directory with more than eight
characters, SMS truncates the directory name and creates a new directory for
client installation.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior can occur because the directory name must conform to the 8.3
MS-DOS restriction; that is, MS-DOS programs (like SMSBOOT1) cannot handle file
or directory names of more than eight characters.

WORKAROUND
==========

Before installing the client software and setting SMS_LOCAL_DIR, follow these
steps:

1. Manually create a directory, (for example, SMSINSTALLATION).

2. Set SMS_LOCAL_DIR to the directory short name (SMSINS~1).

SMS installs into the existing SMSINSTALLATION directory.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Systems Management
Server version 2.0.

Additional query words: prodsms

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbsms200 kbsms200bug 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS200 kbSMS200SP1 kbSMS200SP2
Version           : :2.0,2.0 SP1,2.0 SP2
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.