FTP Server Fails to Open New Daily Log (138549)

SYMPTOMS

The Windows NT 3.5 and 3.51 FTP service can be configured for three different download logging options using the following registry parameter:

   LogFileAccess
   Value Type: REG_DWORD
   Default: 0 (don't log file accesses)
   Description: This value controls the logging of file accesses. This
                value can be one of the following:

                0 = Don't log file accesses
                1 = Log file accesses to FTPSVC.LOG
                2 = Log file accesses to FTyymmdd.LOG, where yy is the
                    year, mm is the month, and dd is the day. A new log
                    file will be opened every day as necessary.

If option 2 is used, and the LogFileDirectory is on an NTFS partition where not Everyone has full permissions, then the FTP server mail fail to open a new logfile each day.

CAUSE

The FTP server creates a new thread for each user that logs in. The thread impersonates the user account that is specified in the logon. This may be "guest" or "anonymous", for example.

When the first file is retrieved or stored after the system date has changed to a new date, the thread that is attempting to do the logging is also used to open a new log file. If this thread is impersonating a user who does not have adequate permissions to the LogFileDirectory, then the file cannot be opened and the server will stop logging until it is stopped and restarted.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5 and 3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. This article does not apply to Windows NT 4.0

WORKAROUND

The best known workaround is to give everyone who will be using the FTP service at least "add" permissions to the LogFileDirectory. The LogFileDirectory is specified with the following registry entry:

LogFileDirectory
Value Type: REG_SZ
Default: %SystemRoot%\System32
Description: This value specifies the target directory for log files.
This value is only used if LogFileAccess is not 0.

File Manager can be used to set permissions on this directory.