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Error: Locking is not possible in the directory when running in group mode

Troubleshooting


Problem

You run IBM Installation Manager in group mode with multiple users. One of the users receives an error that file locking is not possible.

Symptom

The error message is:

Locking is not possible in the directory "{IM_HOME}/eclipse/configuration/org.eclipse.osgi". A common reason is that the file system or Runtime Environment does not support file locking for that location. Please choose a different location, or disable file locking passing "-Dosgi.locking="none" as a VM argument. {IM_HOME}/eclipse/configuration/org.eclipse.osgi/.manager/.fileTableLock (Permission denied).

Installation Manager then exits.

Cause

The error occurs when the user does not have the required permission to access the .fileTableLock file. This file is in the configuration directory for Installation Manager.

The permission is not available because the umask settings for the previous user who ran Installation Manager were not set for group mode. The umask settings for the previous user did not allow files created in group mode to have group permissions equal to owner permissions.

The configuration folder is used to store OSGi cache information. The .fileTableLock file is accessed by the OSGi cache at runtime. Failing to access the .fileTableLock file can impact OSGi cache internal logic.

Resolving The Problem

To resolve this issue, take one of the following steps:

  • Change the permission for .fileTableLock file to 777
    • There are several directories that have .fileTableLock files that might require a change of permissions:
      1. {IM_HOME}/eclipse/configuration/org.eclipse.core.runtime/.manager
      2. {IM_HOME}/eclipse/configuration/org.eclipse.equinox.app/.manager
      3. {IM_HOME}/eclipse/configuration/org.eclipse.osgi/.manager
  • Run this command on the configuration directory:

    • chmod -R g+rwx
  • As a root user, change the owning group for the contents of the root directory of the Eclipse configuration directory to the group that uses Installation Manager in group mode:

    • chgrp -R <groupName> <{IM_HOME}/eclipse/configuration>

Information on group mode permissions is available in the IBM Installation Manager Information Center:

1.5: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/install/v1r5/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.cic.agent.ui.doc/topics/t_group_permissions.html

1.4: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/install/v1r4/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.silentinstall12.doc/topics/t_group_permissions.html.

REMINDER: Group mode is not available on Microsoft Windows and IBM i platforms.

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Document Information

Modified date:
25 October 2021

UID

swg21455334

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