SMS: Invwin32 Fails After Restarting on Windows NT Servers

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2

SYMPTOMS

On a Windows NT Server that is not an SMS Logon Server, if the Inventory Agent Service (Invwin32.exe) is restarted, it fails to do inventory. The Invwin32.log file will show the following errors:

   SMS 1.2
   -------
   Sleeping 1440 minutes.
   SMS root directory: c:\sms\logon.srv.
   DOMAIN.INI path: c:\sms\logon.srv\DOMAIN.INI.
   SMS.INI reports version 786, DOMAIN.INI reports version 0.
   Looking for c:\sms\logon.srv\x86.bin\cli_nt.exe and
   c:\sms\logon.srv\DOMAIN.INI.
   c:\sms\logon.srv\x86.bin\cli_nt.exe does not exist.  Waiting 1 minute...

   SMS 1.1
   -------
   Root directory =C:\sms\logon.srv
   Domain.ini Path path = C:\sms\logon.srv\domain.ini
   SMS.ini and domain.ini have different .ini file versions, call client
   setup
   (692 vs. 0)
   Looking for C:\SMS\logon.srv\x86.bin\cli_nt.exe
   C:\sms\logon.srv\domain.ini
   C:\sms\logon.srv\x86.bin
   \CLI_NT.exe does not exist, waiting

CAUSE

Invwin32 attempts to find the path to the Logon.srv directory when it starts its cycle. If it is not given a path explicitly with the use of the /L parameter, it attempts to get one by using the location where it was executed from. If Invwin32 was executed from a Helper.srv directory on the local hard disk drive, SMS assumes that a Logon.srv directory also exists on that local drive.

However, the Logon.srv directory does not exist locally on Windows NT servers that are not SMS Logon servers. When the SMS Site Configuration Manager service originally installed and started the Inventory Agent on the Server, it started it with the following parameter:

    /L:\\<site server>\SMS_SHR

   SMS root directory: \\ALADRIEL\SMS_SHR.
   DOMAIN.INI path: \\ALADRIEL\SMS_SHR\DOMAIN.INI.
   Copy list file: \\ALADRIEL\SMS_SHR\cl_nt.txt

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, modify the ImagePath parameter in the Registry Editor, as follows:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor can cause serious, system-wide errors that may require you to reinstall Windows NT. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Start the Registry Editor.

2. In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:

         System\CurrentControlSet\Services\SMS_INVENTORY_AGENT_NT
   

3. Manually add

         /L:\\<siteserver>\SMS_SHR
   

   after the executable file for the ImagePath parameter.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K