Odd Global .lockfile problem (multiple replies)

[Kenneth Brody]

Quoting Silas Martinez (Wed, 15 Jun 2005 09:26:03 -0700):

> Laura Brody wrote:
> ...
> >
> >     What is an empty lockfile? Please describe.
> >
> >     What is the exact error message when the problem
> > occurs?
> Empty lockfile -
>
> shell$ cat lockfile
> shell$

lockiles are _binary_.  Using "cat" on them is meaningless.  You are
almost assured of getting "nothing" using the above, regardless of
how many people are using the file at the time.

Try:

    od -c lockfile

> The error was indeed a 'someone else is using this file' type error.

That's because the lockfile was marked as someone using the file.

> >> It doesn't appear to be a simple permissions issue - I've verified
> >> permissions, and had filepro do the same.
> >
> >     Do you mean that you ran the setperms script?
>
> Yes, as well as comparing filesystem permissions on the afflicted
> machine to a running machine with similar user configuration.

If filePro had a permission problem with the lockfile, you would
most likely have received a "permission denied" error.  The fact
that you got a "someone else is using the file" error means that
filePro was, in fact, able to access the lockfile.

[...]
>  >What, exactly, is "the problem"?
>
> The problem was a user being locked out of files when no one else was
> using the system, and no processes were running in the background that
> touched filepro.

This is one of those "how to ask good questions" topics.  ;-)

While we correctly guessed that the problem was "someone else is using
the file" when there wasn't anyone actually in the file at the time, we
did have to guess as to the actual error you were receiving.

[...]
> Although the problem turned out to be not something specifically related
> to filepro - i.e. it was a network connectivity issue that was causing
> improper exiting fromt the filepro system, and filepro was, quite
> properly, not releasing files when the user working with them was
> disconnected, I am in your debt, and you have my gratitude.
>
> Thanks,

You're welcome.

--
KenBrody at BestWeb dot net        spamtrap: <g8ymh8uf001 at sneakemail.com>
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