Conference lassie::ucx

5331.0. "FTP DEL fails when file doesn't exist. V4.1 PAT5. IPMT" by SOS6::DIETZ (Pierre-Etienne DIETZ, Support/France) Wed Mar 12 1997 04:01

IPMT LOG NO: EVT102137   CFS.49461  Assigned 6-Mar-1997
SUBMISSION DATE: 05-Mar-1997 
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System : VAX 7610
Product: DEC TCP/IP UCX
Pr Vers: UCX 4.1
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ABSTRACT Problem Description: 
UCX FTP DELete command hangs the FTP server when the file to be
deleted does not exist, "file not found" displayed without "550".
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Component     :   UCX$FTPD;1 UCX V4.1-12     23-JUL-1996
Component     :   UCX$FTPC;1 UCX V4.1-12     23-JUL-1996  
Component Vers: UCX V4.1 PAT 5 (30-Jan-1997)
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Op System     : OPEN VMS VAX 
Op System Vers: 6.2
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Reproducible     (Y/N) : Y
Workaround Avail (Y/N) : Y 
Multi Customer   (Y/N) : Y (multi. production clusters)
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Severity      : 2 
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1.  Error Message(s): 
    -----------------
PRSSOS::ped$ ftp prssos /user=dietz /pass=mypassword
  220 prssos.evt.dec.com FTP Server (Version V4.1-12) Ready.
  Connected to prssos.evt.dec.com.
  331 Username DIETZ requires a Password.
  230 User logged in.
FTP> del a.tmp
  550 Explicit version number or wild card required    **OK**
FTP> del a.tmp;
  file not found                                      ***NOK***
  <--- then 15 minutes later: --->                    
  421 Idle Time 15:00.00  Closing control connection. ***NOK***
FTP>
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2.  Symptoms: 
    --------
  The FTP "DEL" command on an absent file, triggers different
  answers:
  - V4.0 or V4.1 FTP servers, answer:  
      "file not found" then the server may hang.      ***NOK***
      NB: The first tests may appear as correct... See 3. below.
  - V3.3 ECO 14 FTP server,   answers: 
      "550 file not found" which is a correct answer.
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3.  Process leading to the symptom: 
    ------------------------------
  Upgrade the VAX or AXP system from UCX V3.3 to UCX V4.1.
  Connect to the V4.1 FTP server from another UCX client.
    (The FTP connection may be manual or in a procedure).
  Then try to DELETE a non existant file.
  1) It has been noticed that the behaviour is CORRECT the first
      time(s) you try to DELETE the file ("550 file not found").
    Insist DELETing the file: the "file not found" error will 
      be displayed (UCX V4.0 ECO3, UCX V4.1 PAT5)
  2) Disconnect from the FTP server, then Re-Connect to FTP:
    The incorrect behaviour appears now IMMEDIATELY: example,
                                        -----------
 ! PRSSOS::ped$ ftp prssos /user=dietz/pass=a
 ! 
 ! 220 prssos.evt.dec.com FTP Server (Version V4.1-12) Ready.
 ! Connected to prssos.evt.dec.com.
 ! 331 Username DIETZ requires a Password.
 ! 230 User logged in.
 ! FTP> del a.tmp
 ! 550 Explicit version number or wild card required
 ! FTP> del a.tmp;
 ! file not found
 ! 
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5.  Steps required to duplicate the problem: See (4.) above.
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6.  A detailed description of the 2 WORKAROUNDs:
6.1 FTP V3.3 images
-------------------
  The current workaround has been tested the 4-Mar-97:
      FTPCLIENT                UCX V3.3-7S        19-JUN-1996    
      FTPC                     UCX V3.3-7N        27-JUN-1996    
      FTPD                     UCX V3.3-7N        27-JUN-1996    
    have been run on an AXP VMS 6.2 UCX V4.1 PAT5; the FTP DEL 
    behaviour was not reproductible any longer.
  NB: This workaround is today refused by the system manager, 
      because felt as an untested trick, potentially risky on 
      a 24h x 7days production system.
6.2 Modify the Application(s): example below ...
-------------------
     $ set ver
     $ FTP prssos /user=dietz/pass=archaeopteryx73
       PUT A. a.tmp   ! <== just create an EXISTANT file before
       DEL a.tmp;*    !     the DEL command
     $ set nover
  NB: This time, it's the user who is reluctant to modify his 
      applications.
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7.  A detailed list of all applied patches: 
  The FTP, FTPC, FTPD V4.1 ECO A 11-OCT-1996 images, 
    from LASSIE::UCX$INTERNAL have been tried: UNSUCCESSFULLY.
  System has been reset with the FTP V4.1 PAT5 images.
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8.  A detailed list of any changes in the environment
  The customer upgraded ALL his French production sites from 
    UCX V3.3 to UCX V4.1 PAT5 the 2-Mar-1997. 
  Since that, problems started to occur during the 1st night of 
    production, after the upgrade, with the nightly batch 
    procedures.

    I have noticed this in my testing of the current set of FTP fixes and
    will be addressing it.  Please submit an IPMT for it in the meantime.

RE: 5331.1 by LASSIE::GEMIGNANI 
>   .../... [I] will be addressing it.  

Thanks John. I was on this customer's site last friday: they dont use 
  of our suggested workaround (V3.3 FTP immages on a V4.1 UCX), but have 
  instead modified the application procedures that happened to fail.

>   Please submit an IPMT for it in the meantime.
Done. 
NB: They are still worried by the fact that other procedures may fail.

Best regards,
Pierre-Etienne

    This particular problem (a double response from the DELETE code in the
    FTP server) is limited to the DELE command.  I determined this from my
    testing, as once I was able to make DELE do this, I tried other
    commands, too.