Package Command Manager Service Fails to Start on Remote Servers

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.1 and 1.2

SYMPTOMS

The Site Configuration Manager is unable to start the Package Command Manager (PCM) service on remote servers separated from the Systems Management Server site server by slow wide area network (WAN) links. A Systems Management Server event 225 is logged. Attempting to start the service manually yields the following error:

   Error 2186 - The service is not responding to the control function.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do any one of the following:

• Configure the remote servers so that they are a part of a local Systems Management Server site.
• Obtain the hotfix mentioned in the STATUS section of this article. This fix should have the following timestamp:

        12/5/97  9:01pm      257,904 Pcmsvc32.exe
  
  

• Wait for and apply Systems Management Server 1.2 Service Pack 4.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server versions 1.1 and 1.2. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression- tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.