SMS: SMS Installs into a New Truncated Directory if SMS_LOCAL_DIR Is More Than 8 Characters (226894)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP1
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP2
This article was previously published under Q226894

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 that this is a problem in Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/14/2005
Keywords:kbBug kbprb KB226894
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.