Reducing Path Length in NSM r11.x
Reducing Path Length in NSM r11.x
Unicenter NSM r11.x uses the Windows PATH environment variable to locate many of its executable components. If one conforms with current directory naming practices, some of the paths can be quite long. When combined with Microsoft and other products already installed on a machine, the PATH variable restriction may be exceeded. This paper describes steps to take to resolve the situation.
Background
The PATH variable is subject to Microsoft length restrictions. For most contemporary Microsoft OSs the maximum length is 2048 characters. However, Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 has a shorter restriction of 1,024 characters (it stores 2048 characters but only returns the first 1024 characters via a get PATH API).
In an example system, the path prior to Unicenter NSM installation might be about 360 characters. A full Unicenter installation using default paths will add about 481 characters to that when short 8.3 filenames is active (see Microsoft article 121007). An installation on a system with 8.3 filenames disabled might add about 640 characters. Needless to say, a couple of additional products installed on the machine prior to installing NSM could cause a problem.
Because of this restriction NSM prevents the path exceeding 1024 characters.
How NSM Install Handles the Path
During the NSM install, the user is prompted for the path to install the product.
Figure 1 - Install Directory Specification
NSM will check the system configuration for 8.3 filename support. It then calculates the resulting path. If it is available, it will use short directory names for its calculation. When the feature is disabled, install will use the longer names. If the resulting path length exceeds 1024, it will display a message as below and the install will terminate.
Figure 2 – NSM install path too long message.
Reducing Path Length
Listed below are a couple of tips as to how you might reduce NSM’s impact on the system path.
Shorten NSM directory names
The directory names displayed in the dialog in Figure 1 are intended as defaults or guides to follow current naming practices. They are, however, arbitrary as far as NSM itself is concerned. So, to reduce the impact on the path, these names could be shortened. Here are some suggestions:
1. Move the CA folder to the disk root (C:\CA) eliminating the Program Files directory. (up to 14 characters saved per directory entry or up to 182 characters total)
2. Alter “Unicenter NSM” directory to “NSM” (C:\CA\NSM) (10 characters saved)
3. Shorten the “SharedComponents” directory. If shortened to “SC”, you would save up to 154 characters.(C:\CA\NSM\SC vs. C:\Program Files\CA\Unicenter NSM\SharedComponents)
4. Review other path entries for possible use of 8.3 directory names, duplication, products that have been or may be uninstalled or other errors
Migration Path Changes from NSM r3.1 0506 to NSMr11.1
Base Machine:
Windows 2000 Server SP4
No CA Software installed on machine.
The system path before installing NSMr3.1 System, Log and Performance Agent:
PATH=
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem
Total Character Length of Path: 49
After installing NSM r3.1 Agents (System, Log and Performance) using the following install options:
The path now contains the following:
Created on 9/8/2006 10:16:00 AM Revised June 27, 2007 Page 7 of 7
DRAFT
Reducing Path Length in NSM r11.x
PATH=
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;
C:\CA_APPSW;
C:\NSM\bin;
C:\NSM\services\bin;
C:\NSM\agents\bin;
C:\NSM\services\tools;
C:\NSM\help
Created on 9/8/2006 10:16:00 AM Revised June 27, 2007 Page 7 of 7
DRAFT
Reducing Path Length in NSM r11.x
Total Character Length of Path: 144 (+95 characters)
Now we upgrade the System agent and Log agent to version 11.1 with the following options selected:
After the upgrade of the System and Log agent to version 11.1, the path now contains the following:
PATH=
C:\CA_APPSW\;
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;
C:\CA_APPSW;
C:\NSM\bin;
C:\NSM\services\bin;
C:\NSM\agents\bin;
C:\NSM\services\tools;
C:\NSM\help;
C:\PROGRA~1\CA\SHARED~1\Dylan\bin
Total Character Length of Path: 191 (+46 characters)
After the upgrade of the Performance agent to 11.1 the path now contains the following:
PATH=
C:\CA_APPSW\;
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;
C:\CA_APPSW;
C:\NSM\bin;
C:\NSM\services\bin;
C:\NSM\agents\bin;
C:\NSM\services\tools;
C:\NSM\help;
C:\PROGRA~1\CA\SHARED~1\Dylan\bin;
C:\PROGRA~1\CA\UNICEN~1\bin
Total Character Length of Path: 219 (+28 characters)
Summary:
Install / Upgrade / Path Contains / Total # of Characters in Path / # of Characters AddedBase Windows 2000 Server / PATH=
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem / 49 / -
NSMr3.1 Installation of System, Log and Performance Agent / PATH=
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;
C:\CA_APPSW;
C:\NSM\bin;
C:\NSM\services\bin;
C:\NSM\agents\bin;
C:\NSM\services\tools;
C:\NSM\help / 144 / +95
Upgrade of System & Log agent to r11.1 / PATH=
C:\CA_APPSW\;
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;
C:\CA_APPSW;
C:\NSM\bin;
C:\NSM\services\bin;
C:\NSM\agents\bin;
C:\NSM\services\tools;
C:\NSM\help;
C:\PROGRA~1\CA\SHARED~1\Dylan\bin / 191 / +47
Upgrade of Performance Agent to r11.1 / PATH=
C:\CA_APPSW\;
C:\WINNT\system32;
C:\WINNT;
C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;
C:\CA_APPSW;
C:\NSM\bin;
C:\NSM\services\bin;
C:\NSM\agents\bin;
C:\NSM\services\tools;
C:\NSM\help;
C:\PROGRA~1\CA\SHARED~1\Dylan\bin;
C:\PROGRA~1\CA\UNICEN~1\bin / 219 / +28
Total # of Characters added to path for 3.1 Install / 95
Total # of Characters added to path from upgrade to r11.1 / 75
Created on 9/8/2006 10:16:00 AM Revised June 27, 2007 Page 7 of 7
DRAFT