DOCUMENT:Q125934  30-JUL-2001  [sms]
TITLE   :PATCH.EXE Fails When Launched by PCMSVC32.EXE
PRODUCT :Microsoft Systems Management Server
PROD/VER:winnt:1.0
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kbnetwork kbPCM smspcm

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

 - Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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 smspcm 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS100
Version           : winnt:1.0

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

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.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.