DOCUMENT:Q226894 15-NOV-2000 [sms] TITLE :SMS: SMS_LOCAL_DIR Must Not Exceed the Maximum of 8 Characters PRODUCT :Microsoft Systems Management Server PROD/VER::2.0,2.0 SP1,2.0 SP2 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbsms200 kbsms200bug ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.