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** Troubleshooting ** 'CGI Error - The specified CGI application misbehaved' when launching Controller

Troubleshooting


Problem

User launches Controller via website (typically via http://servername/cognos8/controllerbin/ccr.exe. User receives error message inside Internet Explorer.

Symptom

Error - Microsoft Internet Explorer
CGI Error
The specified CGI application misbehaved by not returning a complete set of HTTP headers.

Cause

The error "The specified CGI application misbehaved" is generic - there are several potential causes for this/similar message:

  • Scenario #1 - Permissions for the IIS website's virtual directory 'ControllerBin' are set incorrectly.
    • For example, they are incorrectly configured to allow 'Scripts and Executables' (rather than the correct 'Scripts Only' value, as described in the installation documentation).
  • Scenario #2 - The IIS Handler "CGI-exe" is enabled (for the virtual directory 'controllerbin')
    • For more details, see separate IBM Technote #1506702.
  • Scenario #3 - Microsoft security (e.g. Windows 2003 patches) stopping CGI processes from working.
    • For more details, see separate IBM Technote #1618592.

Resolving The Problem

Scenario #1

Modify the permissions for the /Cognos8/ControllerBin virtual directory to 'Scripts Only'.



Steps:
  1. Logon to the relevant Controller application server as an administrator
  2. Right-click on 'My Computer' and choose 'manage'
  3. Expand 'Services and Applications'
  4. Expand 'Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager'
  5. Expand 'Web Sites' - 'Default Web Site' - 'Cognos8'
  6. Right-click on virtual directory 'controller' and choose 'properties'
  7. Inside the box 'Execute permissions' change the value to 'Scripts only'
  8. Click OK

Scenario #2
See separate IBM Technote #1506702.

Scenario #3
Convert Controller report server to use ISAPI (not CGI).
  • See separate IBM Technote #1618592.

[{"Product":{"code":"SS9S6B","label":"IBM Cognos Controller"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Component":"Controller","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"8.5.1;8.5;8.4;8.3","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB10","label":"Data and AI"}}]

Historical Number

1018379

Document Information

Modified date:
15 June 2018

UID

swg21345245

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