SMS: Software Inventory Recalls all Remote Offline Storage on Windows 2000 Clients (263401)


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 Q263401

SYMPTOMS

When the Systems Management Server (SMS) client software inventory agent runs on a Windows 2000-based computer with significant amounts of remote storage (such as a tape autoloader), it cycles through all of the offline storage tapes, and restores all of the files back onto the computer's hard disk for inventory.

This causes the remote storage system to continuously move files to and from remote storage, trying to adhere to storage limits on each volume while providing files to inventory.

Because of this, inventory may never finish and the tape system and disk sub-systems may be very busy.

CAUSE

This problem can occur because when software inventory opens files to read header information, Windows 2000 recalls the remote copy from remote storage (such as tape media) to the local hard disk before opening the file.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, on the client that has remote storage configured, disable software inventory on each drive by creating a hidden file named Skpswi.dat and place it in the root folder of the drive. Software inventory does not run again on these drives until the Skipswi.dat file is removed.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 2.0.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/14/2005
Keywords:kbBug kbnofix kbsms200preSP3 KB263401
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