MSDTC problem is still present in XPe?

[Mark K Vallevand]

Is there still an MSDTC problem in XPe?

Do I need to execute
msdtc -install -a
msdtc -resetlog
before installing my applications and configuring IIS?

Do I need to execute them after cloning?

 

[Mark K Vallevand]

Does anyone still have this problem?

 

[Doug Hoeffel]

Hey Mark:

To save me the googling, what exactly was the problem that you have with IIS
and MSDTC? My product hosts a web page via IIS and I have not seen any
problems related to MSDTC.

.... Doug

 

[Mark K Vallevand]

After producing an XPe image, but prior to cloning, we install applications
on the image. These applications setup virtual directories and applications
and stuff in IIS. Then, fbreseal is done, and the image is saved for
cloning. Pretty typical stuff, I'm sure. These applications install and
run on either XP Pro or XPe.

But, unless you issue a command like
msdtc -install -a
or
msdtc -resetlog
and restart IIS, the virtual directories are not created correctly in IIS.
Sometimes IIS configuration (executing manually) will fail with a helpful
error 500. Sometimes IIS will complain the DTC is not running. It is often
hard to get out of this situation. It seems like the IIS metabase is hosed.

This problem occurs whenever an image is loaded onto a new Compact Flash.
It doesn't matter if the image has been resealed. Once an image is loaded
on a flash and, by luck or skill, IIS and DTC are happy, things don't fail.

 

[Eberhard Schefold]

Doug Hoeffel schrieb/wrote:

To save me the googling, what exactly was the problem that you have
with IIS and MSDTC?

See the thread starting with posting <62dd01c201a4$7527eb90
$3bef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA10>.

In this thread, you will also find the following quote from "Richard
Jackson [MS]":

"I am the Embedded XP support lead; I will be looking into this and will
file a bug for you after researching this a bit further."

That was in May 2002. The problem is still present. I bring this subject up
here from time to time, with no response from MS whatsoever.

 

[Doug Hoeffel]

Mark:

I basically do what you do. After fba runs, I load my software and 3rd
party s/w, etc. One other manual step is to configure FTP, and IIS to serve
up my web page/tool for remote service. I have a very detailed procedure
that basically documents keystroke by keystroke on how to configure IIS.
This includes setting the home page, creating virtual directories, disabling
parent paths, disabling extended error messages, etc. etc. I have never
seen issues that you describe with MSDTC.

One thing I wonder about is the reseal. I use the -keepall switch and I
only reseal once. I rememeber from past posts about issues with resealing
more than once. They were IIS related. Are you real sure that you have
reseal your master only once?

HTH... Doug

 

[Mark K Vallevand]

I'm sure that I'm not resealing more than once. In fact, the installation
of our applications occurs prior to fbreseal, and if the procedure is not
followed, we can't install without IIS problems.

Eberhard:
How are your problems showing up?
What are you doing to work around them?

Microsoft:
Is this a problem that you are trying to fix?

--
Regards.
Mark K Vallevand

Doug Hoeffel schrieb/wrote:

To save me the googling, what exactly was the problem that you have
with IIS and MSDTC?

See the thread starting with posting <62dd01c201a4$7527eb90
$3bef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA10>.

In this thread, you will also find the following quote from "Richard
Jackson [MS]":

"I am the Embedded XP support lead; I will be looking into this and will
file a bug for you after researching this a bit further."

That was in May 2002. The problem is still present. I bring this subject up
here from time to time, with no response from MS whatsoever.

 

[Eberhard Schefold]

Mark K Vallevand schrieb/wrote:

How are your problems showing up?

We have the very symptoms as in the posting mentioned (Component Services).

What are you doing to work around them?

We have a "Run" key in the registry that executes

msdtc -install -a

(We tried "Run Once" and the whole bunch of similar entries, but it doesn't
seem to execute at the right moment then.)

 

[Mark K Vallevand]

Yes, I've found the same thing. I tried using FBA with order 12000 so it
executes after reseal on the first boot of a cloned image. Not the right
moment. It seems like it only works if you executing when a user logs on.

We also found that you must restart IIS. The current work-around is to
execute:
msdtc -install -a
msdtc -resetlog
c:\inetpub\AdminScripts\synciwam.vbs
iisreset /restart /timeout:90
after the user logs on after the first boot of a cloned image.

This is a pain because its so mysterious. I feel like a wizard chanting
magic phrases to turn lead into gold.

Is Microsoft ever going to fix this?