CFExecute Stalls

Why is there a cd c:\
change directory to c:\
when the full path already includes the drive?

Could have nothing to do with it, but......

have you tried

<CFEXECUTE NAME="#fullPathHereIfNotInSystem32#rfrompcb"
ARGUMENTS="C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr"
    OUTPUTFILE="C:\Temp\output.txt"
    TIMEOUT="100">
</CFEXECUTE>

If you have CFX_EXEC, try the following:

<CFX_EXEC CMD="cmd.exe /c rfrompcb C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr" DIR="C:\" TIMEOUT="100000" NAME="OUT">
<cfoutput>#OUT#</cfoutput>

Also you may try to add INTERACTIVE="Y" to see what happens in DOS prompt window.  If batch works, this must work.
For debugging purposes, you may want to move trf file to a directory, which is 100% guaranteed accessible for CF process.

Also.  From IBM manual:

Client Access provides a batch data transfer function in the form of the RTOPCB and RFROMPCB console programs. The Client Access batch data transfer programs allow unattended data transfer and can be used in DOS-style batch programs. The batch data transfer is useful for moving data files between OS/400 and a Windows PC. However, there are situations where batch data transfer may be difficult or impractical to use. These situations include:

o Unattended environments. With the exception of Client Access Express V5R1 or later, the batch data transfer functions do not allow users to specify the user profile or password to be used on the connection. This makes it very difficult to run the programs in an unattended environment such as a Windows service program.  

o Synchronization with the transfer. The batch transfer is run in a separate process on the PC. There may be situations where an OS/400 user must control transfers from the OS/400 side or where the additional processing on the transferred file is required. Synchronizing with a separate process adds increased complexity.  

o Robust error handling. The batch programs signal error severities similar to the old DOS commands. There may be times when better error handling is required
. . . .

It looks like you need a proper login.  Add user login to CFX_EXEC call.

<CFX_EXEC CMD="cmd.exe /c rfrompcb C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr" DIR="C:\" TIMEOUT="100000" NAME="OUT">
<cfoutput>#OUT#</cfoutput>

AND

<CFEXECUTE NAME="#fullPathHereIfNotInSystem32#rfrompcb"
ARGUMENTS="C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr"
    OUTPUTFILE="C:\Temp\output.txt"
    TIMEOUT="100">
</CFEXECUTE>

Did not work. It produced this result in the browser:

IBM AS/400 Client Access Express for Windows Version 5 Release 1 Level 0 Transfer data to AS/400 (C) Copyright IBM Corporation and Others 1984, 2000. All rights reserved. U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Licensed Materials - Property of IBM

Using a lower timeout value (100) it produced a timeout:

Timeout period expired without completion of rfrompcb  
 
The error occurred in C:\Inetpub\IntranetRoot\asmwkst\as400upload.cfm: line 19
 
17 : <CFEXECUTE NAME="rfrompcb"
18 : ARGUMENTS="C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr"
19 :     OUTPUTFILE="C:\Temp\output.txt"
20 :     TIMEOUT="100">
21 : </CFEXECUTE>

But notice it has no "send completed" note plus the rfrompcb.exe process was still in task manager (it doesnt take that long to do). It did prompt for user name and password, but in Cold Fusion Scheduler I can put that in too.

This worked in our old machine by having IBM CLient Access open with the connections to the IBM servers. I replicated the same thing here but for some reason it doesnt work. Let me emphasize that typing the command or executing the batch works, so the authentication on the IBM side works. Something about the CFexecute is causing the problems, specifically the fact that we are running CFMX instead of CF 4.5 on the old machine.

So, you wanna say that when you execute this program interactively, you are prompted for password?  How authentication works?

When I run it in CF scheduler, it uses the username/pw I provide which is OK. When I run it by the code itself, it prompts (this is because the file is NT authenticated). IBM Client Access has to also be up, with the connections established (done).

I suspect since it is only with CF that this gets reamed, its with the permissions or the server user that is running it. E.g. when I manually run the process its OK, but for some reason when CF runs it, it stalls and hangs in the server processes.

If this is a permission problem, did you try CFX_EXEC with authentication parameters?  Provide the same account you are logged, as a user when you run batch manually.  Also, there are some switches for rfrompcb, like /S.  It might give a clue why it doesn't work (cannot read file, cannot make connection....)

I tried this

<CFX_EXEC CMD="cmd.exe /c rfrompcb /S C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr" DIR="C:\" TIMEOUT="100000" USER="user" PWD="password" DOMAIN="domain" FILE="c:\temp\output.txt">

Strange thing is output.txt shows nothing. It seems to run, rfrompcb doesnt get stuck in the task manager, but its disconcerting that nothing comes up in the output.txt file. I am checking now to see if the actual transfer still took place.

It also may mean that completely nothing happened.  You have to check for "STATUS" after CFX_EXEC exits:

<CFIF STATUS NEQ "OK">
     <CFOUTPUT>#MSG#</CFOUTPUT><BR>
     Error number: <CFOUTPUT>#ERRN#</CFOUTPUT>
</CFIF>

I checked our AS400 and it did not work. I added that code but again, the browser spit absolutely nothing out, just a blank page.

Messing around with Username, Password, and Domain I finally at least got a error message:

Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password.
Error number: 1326

I dont know what is generating that, rfrompcb or ColdFusion. If so, Im not sure which User/name/domain to put???

Add to see if CFX_EXEC worked at all:

<CFIF STATUS NEQ "OK">
     <CFOUTPUT>#MSG#</CFOUTPUT><BR>
     Error number: <CFOUTPUT>#ERRN#</CFOUTPUT>
<CFELSE>
   Execution time: <cfoutput>#EXECTIME#</cfoutput> ms
</CFIF>

Also try to remove that /S switch from command line.  See if it makes any difference.

If not, remove /c from command line and add INTEARCTIVE="Y" in CFX_EXEC param list.  This will make DOS prompt window visible and it will stay after command completes.  Might give some clues...

This error comes from CFX_EXEC.  Use login that works when you run batch manually and it works.

I tried the above tips. With the "CMD" tag, I see "Execution Time: 0MS" which is not good. When I modify it to just "rfrompcb ....." instead of "cmd.exe /c rfrompcb" I see "Execution Time: 32MS". The interactive tag on doesnt make anything different, just makes the MS go back to 0.

The data is still not uploaded to the AS400 and the output.txt file is still stuck with no data. At least the rfrompcb process doesnt get stuck in the process list..

FYI I have been conversing with IBM on the phone and they suspect it is something to do with Win 2003 permissions to server processes. Instead of using rfrompcb, I am using rxferpcb which allows you to put a user name and password (to the AS400 system). Unfortunately for some reason it still produces some sort of error, presumably due to an inabilty to access the data file(?) when run as part of a ColdFusion process. Anyone got experience with anything similar?

If you use login in CFX_EXEC that allows to acces the file, it must work.  Don't use batc file, don't use cmd.exe.  Run process (rxferpcb) directly.  If an account is defined in CFX_EXEC, task runs under specified account.  If INERACTIVE flag is specified, task runs on the interactive desktop (not in services desktop).  There is no reasons why it shouldn't work.

Still no luck. Here is the cfm code Im trying to run

<CFX_EXEC CMD="rxferpcb.exe C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr clienta1 password" DIR="C:\Program Files\IBM\Client Access\" USER="administrator" PWD="****" DOMAIN="localmachine" TIMEOUT="100000" FILE="c:\temp\output3.txt">
<CFIF STATUS NEQ "OK">
     <CFOUTPUT>#MSG#</CFOUTPUT><BR>
     Error number: <CFOUTPUT>#ERRN#</CFOUTPUT>
<CFELSE>
   Execution time: <cfoutput>#EXECTIME#</cfoutput> ms
</CFIF>

Using CFX Execute it just doesnt do anything. Had better luck with CF_execute, at least it let it generate output.

I had to reinstall Client Access and I upgraded the service pack. New error:

Execution time: 203 ms
Exit code: 20

IBM iSeries Access for Windows
Version 5  Release 2  Level 0
RXFERPCB
(C) Copyright IBM Corporation and Others 1984, 2002.  All rights reserved.
U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure
  restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.
Licensed Materials - Property of IBM

Transfer request C:\inetpub\intranetroot\asmwkst\Batch\f550157.tfr FAILED.


Client Access Error Messages:

CWBCO1011 - Remote port could not be resolved

   Elasped transfer time: 0 hours 0 minutes 0.63 seconds (63 ms)
   CompletionTime          = 2004-10-5 10.5.52.0
   Rows Transferred        = 0
   Data Warnings Occurred  = No
   Data Errors Occurred  = No

So, definitely it's working now.  "Remote port could not be resolved"...  Hmmm...  I would guess AS/400 is not listening on the port specified.  Is it configurable?  Better to search IBM docs.

This doesnt seem like an issue that can be resolved, so I am going to close the ticket. Thanks for everyone's input, it helped diagnose the problem. Unfortunately I think its something that even IBM cannot figure out.