CIFS troubles

[robr]

I'm really at a loss here, I spent this weekend playing with Alfresco and I can't even get the simplest of things to work… namely CIFS.  I installed this on a Windows machine.  I created a browse space via the web client, now I want that browse space to appear as a CIFS share… I've read lots of docs, I've searched this forum, I've watched webinars, I've poked around with the two file-server.xxxx files.  It looks like it should be enabled by default….  I'm just not getting what I need to do to turn it on and be able to share that browse space out.

It's like I'm getting TOO MUCH info, some of it depricated, and it's all confusing me.  Being a windows guy, all these config files are pretty overwhelming, but I've played with JBoss applications before and do have some experience with them, so it's not rocket science.  Is there a nice simple UP TO DATE doc that basically says 'DO THIS' to turn it on without trying to document every option available?  Thanks!

[sans12]

Hello All,
Since I was unable to post a seperate question related to CIFS i am posting it as reply.. Please can someone helpme:
I have machine 1 on which I installed Alfresco on Windows XP SP2. Changed the custom-vti.properties, ranapply_amp.bat, restarted alfresco.
If I browse this machine using localhost from machine 1 itself, I am able to use the CIFS.. can drag-drop, checkin-checkout etc. without any problem.
Now, If I try to access the space from machine 2 by typing http://ipaddress:8080/alfresco & login as admin I don't have issues BUT if I try to access a space using CIFS I get problem "cannot find path file:///machinenameA/space name.Make sure path or internet address is correct". Kindly note: I was able to CIFS same space from machine 1 but not from machine 2.
What needs to be done?

[richard_evans]

Arrgh! I HAD said….

"Regarding cifs on Vista. Since posting my problem a few days ago I have found that restarting alfresco always solves the problem. If I hibernate and resume my laptop, the cifs connection does not survive; if I delete all connections and try to reconnect, I get the "invalid password" problem and cannot reconnect until I restart alfresco"

… This was after a repeatable pattern that broke just after I had posted!

I am now unable to connect again however much I restart. I have not been changing any alfresco or machine config - just restarting my laptop in different locations.

I have attempted to follow your instructions, dward, about native SMB. 
1. Disabling smb2. Even after the registry and firewall changes … and a reboot… I see a 445 listener.

  C:\Alfresco\tomcat\logs>netstat -an | find "445"
  TCP    0.0.0.0:445            0.0.0.0:0              LISTENING
  TCP    [::]:445               [::]:0                 LISTENING
  UDP    0.0.0.0:54455          *:*
  UDP    [::]:54455             *:*
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Using nbtstat I see my cifs name (RICHARDSLAPPIEA) though twice; is this significant?

C:\Alfresco\tomcat\logs>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection 2:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []
    No names in cache

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []
    No names in cache

Wireless Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.16.10] Scope Id: []
                NetBIOS Local Name Table

       Name               Type         Status
    ———————————————
    RICHARDSLAPPIE <00>  UNIQUE      Registered
    WORKGROUP      <00>  GROUP       Registered
    RICHARDSLAPPIE <20>  UNIQUE      Registered
    RICHARDSLAPPIEA<20>  UNIQUE      Registered
    RICHARDSLAPPIEA<00>  UNIQUE      Registered

Bluetooth Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Other useful tests:
Telnet to the CIFS server IP on port 139/445, check Windows/socket is listening
=> I can connect to 127.0.0.1/445 not 139; I can connect to 192.168.16.10/445 and 139

Try to connect from the same system on Windows using Start->Run, or equivalent, and enter '\\<servername' or `\\<ipaddr>'

C:\Alfresco\tomcat\logs>net use a: \\RichardsLappieA\Alfresco admin /user:admin
System error 86 has occurred.
The specified network password is not correct.

C:\Alfresco\tomcat\logs>net use a: \\192.168.16.10\Alfresco admin /user:admin
System error 86 has occurred.
The specified network password is not correct.

C:\Alfresco\tomcat\logs>net use a: \\127.0.0.1\Alfresco admin /user:admin
System error 86 has occurred.

The specified network password is not correct.
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Try the same test from another Windows client
If the IP address works but the name doesn't then you can try adding an entry to the lmhosts file in <windows>\system32\drivers\etc.
There is usually a file called lmhosts.sam, Windows Explorer might not show the extension. It needs to be called 'lmhosts', then add an entry of <ipaddr> <servername>'
=> (No machines handy at the moment)

Use Wireshark/tcpdump to packet trace the network to see what is going on, what port is the client trying to connect to etc.
=> Mmm. Will download and give this a go

[richard_evans]

Following on from my last post I have run wireshark and have captured some activity on an interface called "Microsoft." What information would be useful and how best can I get it to you? Should I save a pcap file somewhere public?

[richard_evans]

In case it is of value, I am pretty sure now that cifs WORKS when I am attached to one wireless network I regularly use and DOES NOT WORK (symptom: password error) when I am connected to another.
One difference between the two wireless networks is the security. Just in case that is relevant - the network that does not work uses  WPA-Personal; the one that does uses  WPA2-Personal.

[ccsfdave]

I am not sure how, or why, but CIFS is now working on my XP machine.

I am still having issues with Windows 2003 64bit

1. I have attempted the "native SMB" fix
2. I have successfully telneted to 445 and 139 from remote
3. I have successfully telneted to 445 from local but failed to 139 from local
4. I have tried the suggestions at the bottom of dward's post at 21 Jul 2009, 15:06
5. I have done the netstat and nbtstat as posted or referred to by richard.evans at 28 Jul 2009, 07:01

I am bummed that this is not working for me…I want to demonstrate how great Alfresco is but still have yet to have a fully working copy.  3.1 on linux had issues with document preview, 3.2 on windows has issues with CIFS but the document preview works…so we are getting there but really frustrating.  I have been waiting a year to start demoing Alfresco around the city and watching as departments go to Sharepoint, Live Cycle,  or expand usage of existing technologies without any regard for Alfresco.

*Sigh*

–
Dave Geller

Senior Business Analyst
R&D Division of the Dept. of Technology
City & County of San Francisco
o: 415.581.3985

[jimbojw]

Hey all - I think I know the problem:

[size=150]CIFS/SMB DOES NOT WORK with 64bit Windows[/size] (as of version 3.2)

I had most or all of the problems reported by others here, nothing helped until I found this bug report:

https://issues.alfresco.com/jira/browse/ETHREEOH-2430

Please log in or sign up in Jira, then VOTE UP the issue.

Also, dward was completely correct.  In Windows Server 2003, you have to set the SMBDeviceEnabled registry key then reboot the box to release Windows hold on TCP port 445.

Hope this helps!

[mmichalik]

robr-

I have 3.1 on Linux but never could get Open Office to fully work.  It took a bit of configuring and don't want to go down that road again.  I explained to Joe Van De Graaf while at the San Francisco meet-up that what Alfresco really needs to do to gain a foothold in the City and County of San Francisco was to make an installer that incorporated all the features and made everything just plain work.  I suggested they could even go the path of a virtual appliance for VMWare, Parallels, App-Logic, EC2, we have access to all of them.

I have been trying to get a foothold with Alfresco in with the Controller's office but the lack of functionality is an impediment.  I also have internal battles to deal with so if Alfresco could do their part, I could concentrate on the elements out of their control…namely internal politics.

Nevertheless, I hold out hope for Alfresco and want to continue to use and champion them in the city's government.  I just don't understand why they don't recognize the opportunity cost of letting things like this linger.

My suggestion to you is to move on if you must, but keep an eye on the company, I think they are on the verge of doing really good things.

Alfresco Community:  Does anyone have a fix?

CCSFDave and Robr -

I'm not sure if this is the correct avenue to be reaching out to you but, we've been working with Alfresco for a while now and have ironed out a lot of these issues.  We have EC2 AMI's and AppLogic appliances that are available if you're interested.  Right now, they are setup with the FOSS edition but, creating an enterprise version would be very simple for us to do.  If you're interested in finding out about this, I would be happy to discuss it with you.  You can check out our company, Cirrhus9, at http://www.cirrhus9.com and you can contact me at mmichalik@cirrhus9.com directly if you would like.  Mike.

[mmichalik]

Dave, pretty much the same situation here at Trump.  Lots of potential here, but it needs to 'just work' when you install it.  I don't care that it relies on open office, java, imagemagick or any of the other 3rd party open source tools that are included, as long as it all installs and just works, that way I can concentrate on getting people to appreciate what it can do for us and get them to start using it (and learn best practices myself).  I had already told my boss what a great product it appeared to be and he checked out the site and read lots of papers and was pretty psyched.  He's going to be pretty disappointed when I tell him it's not going to work for us, not because it doesn't do what we want, but because I, his most senior tech guy, couldn't get it to install and function properly.  I wish I hadn't shown it to him in the first place as I kind of end up with mud on my face.  I hate failure which is why I've put far more time into this than he wanted me to, including my own nights and this past weekend, but my wife and kids are ready to kill me.

CCSFDave and Robr -

I'm not sure if this is the correct avenue to be reaching out to you but, we've been working with Alfresco for a while now and have ironed out a lot of these issues.  We have EC2 AMI's and AppLogic appliances that are available if you're interested.  Right now, they are setup with the FOSS edition but, creating an enterprise version would be very simple for us to do.  If you're interested in finding out about this, I would be happy to discuss it with you.  You can check out our company, Cirrhus9, at http://www.cirrhus9.com and you can contact me at mmichalik@cirrhus9.com directly if you would like.  Mike.

[golden_eye]

Hi
i have another problem.
I manage to configure cifs,but i dont know why i can see my alfresco in my domain.
There are 2 files in WEB-INF\ file-servers.properties and file-servers.xml.,but you should configure any of these files.
How to confugure file-servers-custom.xml to recognize what i configure in properties file.
is there any other file needed to enable cifs in domain in 3.2?

[dward]

WEB-INF/alfresco/file-servers.xml and WEB-INF/alfresco/file-servers.properties are no longer in use in Alfresco v3.2.

See

http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/File_Server_Subsystem#Advanced_Spring_Overrides

for how to override the new Spring configuration. You will need a v3.3 nightly build, as this mechanism was broken in the 3.2 Community release.