IV83880: INCREASE MAXIMUM PATH ALLOWED FROM 2047 TO 4096 FOR WINDOWS 2008 AND ABOVE

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.3.0 Fix Pack 7 (6.3.0-TIV-ITM-FP0007)

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Microsoft has been gradually increasing the maximum allowed PATH
  size over the years. In the past, the maximum PATH length for
  Windows 2008 was 2047. Through their hotfix mechanism, that
  limit has been increased to 4095:
  
     https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2685893
  

Local fix

• To get around the 2047 limit imposed by ITM, shorten the PATH
  temporarily _before_ installing ITM and then restore it
  afterward.
  

Problem summary

• Installer does not correctly recognize Windows maximum PATH.
  
  
  On Windows, the IBM Tivoli Monitoring (ITM) installer updates
  the PATH value to include ITM directories.  Before doing so, ITM
  computes the maximum PATH length and aborts the install if the
  updated PATH will be more than Microsoft supports.  When this
  happens, ITM displays a popup with the following message:
  
     PATH environment variable length exceeds the maximum, abort
  install.  See Microsoft Knowledge Base KB180410, KB906469, and
  KB832978.
  
  In addition, CANDLE_HOME\InstallITM\Abort IBM Tivoli Monitoring
  yyyymmdd hhmm.log contains messages similar to these:
  
     mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss OSMajor(6) OSMinor(1) MaxPath(2047)
     mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss PATH environment variable length exceeds
  the maximum of 2047, abort install.  See Microsoft Knowledge
  Base KB180410, KB906469, and KB832978.
  
  Microsoft has published new hotfixes, service packs, and
  versions that extend the previously known maximum PATH length.
  ITM should account for these updates.
  

Problem conclusion

• The code has been changed to determine the maximum PATH length
  according to this table:
  
     Windows                              Major  Maximum
     Level                                Minor  PATH
     -----------------------------------  -----  ----
     Windows 2003                          5.2   1023
     - with Service Pack 2 or above              2047
     - with KB906469                             2047
     Windows 2003+                         5.3+  2047
  
     Windows Server 2008                   6.0   2047
     - with Service Pack 2 or above              4095
     - with KB2685893                            4095
     Windows Server 2008 R2/Windows 7      6.1   2047
     - with Service Pack 2 or above              4095
     - with KB2685893                            4095
     Windows Server 2012/Windows 8         6.2   4095
     Windows Server 2012 R2/Windows 8.1    6.3   4095
     Windows Server 2012+/Windows 8.1+     6.4+  4095
  
     Windows Server 2016/Windows 10       10.0   4095
     Windows Server 2016+/Windows 10+     10.1+  4095
  
  The popup message has been changed to indicate the new PATH
  length and the maximum PATH length.  It no longer references the
  Microsoft hotfix articles:
  
     New PATH length 2133 exceeds the maximum of 2047 allowed for
  this operating system level.  Install aborted.
  
  The log messages also provide more information:
  
     mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss GetMaxPath: OSName(Windows Server 2008 R2
  or Windows 7 without KB2685893) OSMajor(6) OSMinor(1)
  MaxPath(2047)
     mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss New PATH length 2133 exceeds the maximum
  of 2047 allowed for this operating system level.  Install
  aborted.
  
  The fix for this APAR is contained in the following maintenance
  packages:
  
    | fix pack | 6.3.0-TIV-ITM-FP0007
  

Temporary fix

• Temporarily shorten the PATH during the ITM install.  Once the
  install is complete, restore the original PATH along with the
  ITM updates.
  

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  OMEG DIST INSTA

• Fixed component ID

  5608A41CI

Applicable component levels