Good Morning Folks

I have a LAN

Among the several connections to it are the following four devices:

A MAXSTOR network Storage Device

A PC running Microsoft Windows 2000 Server 5.0.2195 (SP4)

A PC running Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600 (SP2)

A PC running Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600 (SP2)

All of the PCs are running IIS

The 'Public Internet' is connected via a Broadband connection from the

LAN

On the MAXSTOR is a folder called 'CENTRALDATA'

In that folder are a number of Access dotMDB files.

The Access files can be opened on all of the PCs by double clicking on

them in Windows Explorer.

===================­====================­====================­=====

QUESTION ONE

Can the access files on the MAXTOR be accessed from dotASP pages on the

three PCs ??

If so, how ??

If so, are there any simple tutorial pages that explain in simple

language how to do it ??

===================­====================­====================­=====

I have a similar 'CENTRALDATA' folder on a "Public Internet Server" that

I own

QUESTION TWO

Can the access files on the "Public Internet Server" be accessed from

dotASP pages on the three PCs ??

If so, how ??

If so, are there any simple tutorial pages that explain in simple

language how to do it ??

===================­====================­====================­=====

I have a similar 'CENTRALDATA' folder on a "Public Internet Server" that

I own

QUESTION THREE

===================­====================­====================­=====

By the way, I tried to create Virtual Folders using IIS Admin on the

three PCs on the LAN, but it will not allow it for 'Remote' folders.

"p byers" <pb@sst-ltd.co.uk> wrote in message

news:48B26545.3B05D­32C@sst-ltd.co.uk...­

Whether it is morning depends on a) when the reader reads the message and b)

what timezone they are in.

I read this this morning and I'm UK based to so good morning back. But its

afternoon now, or is it?

You haven't stated whether you are expecting users to access the site

anonymously or not.

If all access is to be from users who have domain accounts on your network

then turn off anonymous access on the IIS site and turn on windows

intergrated security. Now grant access for those users to the file share

and folders containing the MDBs as would if the were accessing them via the

file system.

If you need anonymous access you will need more work. By default IIS

creates an IUSR_<machinename> machine guest account which it used to access

files. This account has not access to the network. Therefore you need to

create a new account in the domain and change the anonymous access on the

IIS to use this new domain account. Grant this account file access as

above.

I guess that depends on what you mean by 'access'. If you mean can you use

JET queries against a copy of an MDB held on a public server I would say

thats probably not a good idea.

What is it you want to do? Download it? Do you need to upload it as well.

Seems identical to second.

Creating virtual folders for a UNC path is possible, you must specific a

user name and password that IIS will use to access the folder. That however

would not help with DB queries against MDBs on remote server.

--

Anthony Jones - MVP ASP/ASP.NET

In simple language, I would like several servers running IIS (LAN and

'Public

Internet') to serve ASPages to be able to use the a Common (the same)

Database -

not individual copies.

There's an oft-abused acronym of "UNC" which'd help you greatly here.

Have a read of the URL below; hopefully that'll be enough to set you in the

right direction.

http://en.wikipedia­.org/wiki/Path_(comp­uting)#Uniform_Namin­g_Convention

- Bob.

Anthony

Thank you for your reply.

I tried so hard not to 'screw-up' my request and to give all of the

information !!

Such irony to slip-up on the 'Salutation' - lol

The access to the ASPages (both on the PCs on the Local LAN and on the

Internet') will be anonymous.

The access to the Databases is Jet Queries only - not uploading or

In simple language, I would like several servers running IIS (LAN and

Internet') to serve ASPages to be able to use the a Common (the same)

not individual copies.

-AND-

to do it simply by quoting the appropriate Shared Folder in the DataSource

the 'Open' statements.

-BUT-

I am too dim to be able to do it, I have Searched, Read and Struggled for

and FAILed so far.

-HENCE-

My simple plea for simple help from clever folks

"p byers" <pb@sst-ltd.co.uk> wrote in message

news:48B2CCAE.92E14­D6@sst-ltd.co.uk...

relevant

'Public

downloading.

'Public

Database -

of

ages -

I'm gonna guess that what you mean by public server is a server you run on

your network which is accessible to the public.

Add a new user to your domain (lets call it IUSR but you call it what you

like) and make it a part of the GUESTS group. Set its password never to

expire.

On the File server (MAXTOR?) grant IUSR read/write access to the file share

that contains the mdbs. Similarly grant the IUSR access to the folder that

is being shared.

The 2000 server will have a website or application folder which needs access

to an mdb on the file server. Open the site or applications properties in

IIS manager. Go to directory security, click edit... in authentication

control, clear Intergrated Windows authentication, click edit... anonymous

access, change the username to the domain IUSR account (use the browse

button to select this) and enter the IUSR account password. Clear the Allow

IIS to control password box and ok out the dialogs.

Grant IUSR at least read rights on the folder that is the root of the site

or application.

Open local security policy (in admin tools) on the 2000 server. Expand

Local Policies and click User Rights Assignment. In the list select and

edit 'Log on as batch job' add IUSR to the set of accounts that can logon as

a batch. While you're there look through the list of rights looking of

rights granted to IUSR_<machinename> where ever such a right is granted add

the IUSR (I think batch is the only one necessary, if that).

Access some simple htm or gif in the application from a browser to check you

got those steps correct. If that fails check the event logs, you'll likely

have some message complaining about the username, password or access rights.

I notice form subsequent replies that you may be attempting to access the

mdbs on a mapped network drive. The process that ASP applications run in

cannot see network drives. You must use UNCs to access network resources.

The site should now be able query the mdb files.

The steps for the XP systems are the same (note you only need one IUSR

account for the domain).

--

Anthony Jones - MVP ASP/ASP.NET

Bob

Thank you for your advice.

The "Computer Name" of my MAXTOR storage device is: MSS-0135F8

On the PC on which I am testing, it is Mapped as the 'S:' drive

I created a tiny test ASPage which is shown below.

There are three "dataBaseRoot" values

===================­====================­====================­=====

The first is to prove the Script by using a Local Database table - it

works OK

===================­====================­====================­=====

The second uses the Mapped drive name - it fails as below

Error Type:

Microsoft JET Database Engine (0x80004005)

's:\atest\ReConstit­uted_wwwroot\Data\co­mmon\data\org_data.m­db' is not a

valid

path. Make sure that the path name is spelled correctly and that you are

connected to the server on which the file resides.

/test/testshare.asp­, line 14

===================­====================­====================­=====

The third is my attempt to use a UNC string - it fails as below

Error Type:

Microsoft JET Database Engine (0x80004005)

'\\MSS-0135F8\atest­\ReConstituted_wwwro­ot\Data\common\data\­org_data.mdb'

is not

a valid path. Make sure that the path name is spelled correctly and that

you

are connected to the server on which the file resides.

/test/testshare.asp­, line 14

===================­====================­====================­=====

Where do I go next ??

Pete (Northolt UK)

<%

dataBaseRoot = "c:\inetpub\wwwroot­\Data\common\"

''dataBaseRoot = "s:\atest\ReConstit­uted_wwwroot\Data\co­mmon\"

''dataBaseRoot = "\\MSS-0135F8\atest­\ReConstituted_wwwro­ot\Data\common\"

DBCon = "Provider=Microsoft­.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=" & dataBaseRoot &

"data\org_data.mdb"­

''Response.Write("<­P>" & DBCon)

''Response.end

set my_conn = Server.CreateObject­("ADODB.Connection")­

my_Conn.Open DBCon

%>

Bob Milutinovic wrote:

Bob

Thank you for your advice.

The "Computer Name" of my MAXTOR storage device is: MSS-0135F8

On the PC on which I am testing, it is Mapped as the 'S:' drive

I created a tiny test ASPage which is shown below.

There are three "dataBaseRoot" values

===================­====================­====================­=====

The first is to prove the Script by using a Local Database table - it

works OK

===================­====================­====================­=====

The second uses the Mapped drive name - it fails as below

Error Type:

Microsoft JET Database Engine (0x80004005)

's:\atest\ReConstit­uted_wwwroot\Data\co­mmon\data\org_data.m­db' is not a

valid

path. Make sure that the path name is spelled correctly and that you are

connected to the server on which the file resides.

/test/testshare.asp­, line 14

"p byers" <pb@sst-ltd.co.uk> wrote in message

news:48B3A115.151A0­59B@sst-ltd.co.uk...­

This would appear to be a major failing.

From the machine you're running the ASP scripts on, can you get to

S:\atest\ReConstitu­ted_wwwroot\Data\com­mon\data\org_data.md­b using Windows

Explorer?

If not, you'll need to create a permanent mapping to drive S: on _that_

machine, so IIS can reference the network drive.

Chris and Bob

Thank you for your replies

I have done my best to try your suggestions.

I think/hope that I covered them all !!

The results are described below.

===================­====================­====================­=====

I can Double Click on

S:\atest\ReConstitu­ted_wwwroot\Data\com­mon\data\org_data.md­b

in Windows Explorer and it opens it in MSAccess

BUT

It gives a security warning (can be seen at

http://www.byershos­tingpeter.co.uk/test­/securitywarning.gif­ )

I have never noticed that warning before !!

On checking, I find that the message appears for any dotMDB files on any

networked PCs

SO

I checked on doubleclicking on dotTXT files on the "S:" share

No Security Warning

File opens in Notepad

I checked on doubleclicking on dotSVG files on the "S:" share

No Security Warning

File opens in Internet Explorer

===================­====================­====================­=====

The "S:" share in WindowsExplorer is shown as:

pbyers on 'mss-0135F8 (192.168.1.110)' (S)

SO

I tried

dataBaseRoot =

still got the "is not a valid path" message !!

===================­====================­====================­=====

I tried the "Z:" share and UNC eqivalent to get to the 'Windows Server

got the "is not a valid path" message !!

===================­====================­====================­=====

I created an ASPage to test the ability to read a dotTXT file

It is shown below.

There are four "strFileName" statements.

The first is to prove the script on the Local PC - it works

The other three fail !!

I pasted "S:\atest\ReConstit­uted_wwwroot\test\te­stshare.txt" in the 'Open

box in Notepad and it opened the file instantly.

I tried the same test with both UNC strings - both took several seconds

gave "invalid file name"

===================­====================­====================­=====

Thank you for your knowledge, suggestions and interest - I hope that we

triumph !!

Pete (Northolt UK)

<%

Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2, ForAppending = 8

Const TristateUseDefault = -2 ' Opens the file using the system default.

Const TristateTrue = -1 ' Opens the file as Unicode.

Const TristateFalse = 0 ' Opens the file as ASCII.

Set objFS=Server.Create­Object("Scripting.Fi­leSystemObject")

strFileName= "c:\inetpub\wwwroot­\test\testshare.txt"­

''strFileName=

"\\mss-0135F8\pbyer­s\atest\ReConstitute­d_wwwroot\test\tests­hare.txt"

''strFileName=

''strFileName= "S:\atest\ReConstit­uted_wwwroot\test\te­stshare.txt"

If objFS.FileExists(st­rFileName) = True Then

Set objTextS = objFS.OpenTextFile(­strFileName, ForReading, False,

TristateFalse)

textRead = objTextS.ReadAll

Response.Write textRead

else

Response.Write "File Not found"

end if

%>

Chris and Bob

Thank you for your replies

I have done my best to try your suggestions.

I think/hope that I covered them all !!

The results are described below.

===================­====================­====================­=====

I can Double Click on

S:\atest\ReConstitu­ted_wwwroot\Data\com­mon\data\org_data.md­b

in Windows Explorer and it opens it in MSAccess

The "S:" share in WindowsExplorer is shown as:

pbyers on 'mss-0135F8 (192.168.1.110)' (S)

SO

I tried

dataBaseRoot =

"\\mss-0135F8\pbyer­s\atest\ReConstitute­d_wwwroot\Data\commo­n\" still

got the "is not a valid path" message !!

I pasted "S:\atest\ReConstit­uted_wwwroot\test\te­stshare.txt" in the

'Open File' box in Notepad and it opened the file instantly.

I tried the same test with both UNC strings - both took several

seconds and then gave "invalid file name"

Hi

Chris Hohmann and Bob Milutinovic gave me two replies that I read

tried to take on board.

They had both suggestions and questions.

I did my level best to try their suggestions and answer their questions.

I put it all in one reply to try and establish one path of trials.

===================­====================­====================­=====

Anthony Jones and Bob Barrows both kindly contributed with comments and

My replies and comments to both are here.

Anthony said

*********

"Dunno what that is. A better test would be to knock up some VBScript in

that simulates the sort of ADO querying you would be doing from ASP."

I will do that - the reason there are two reasons that I did not do it

1. I expected that I would be told that this is the wrong group

- AND -

it is ASP that I want the things to wok in.

2. I have experience in the past that the content in VBS does not always

transfered to ASP

*********

"When you created the S: mapping did you enter any user credentials that

gain access to the share?"

No - found the Folder (cannot remember if it was in 'Search' or 'Network

then RightClick - DropDown - Clicked on MapPath

*********

"What does this mean? Your assigning a string into a variable but what

with it?"

In the Original Post, there was a copy of the ASPage, I inserted the line

file.

*********

"What is 'the "Z:" share"? What is the UNC equivalent?"

In the Original Post I listed four devices on the Network - the "Z:" share

Windows 2000 Server.

The test was done in response to the thought that it could all work OK if

PC rather than the MAXTOR device.

*********

"That isn't surprising since so far you haven't got the UNC path working

interactive session and S: will not be available in IIS."

I understand that - that is the whole basis of my problem - lol

*********

"Sounds like there is a problem resolving the name mss-0145F8? What

you running (OTW are you running NBT over TCP/IP or just straight TCP/IP).

Try pinging mss-0145F8 I bet that doesn't work. Is mss-0145F8 actually

Computer name the domain knows the device as. Your other post appear to

as MAXTOR."

Please look at http://www.byershos­tingpeter.co.uk/test­/images-1.htm there

images tha I think may be relevant.

I do not know what protocols I am running, BUT, I will find out !!