WMI, SQL Express, Backup Exec and Zero

This post is not a technical resolution post, more a can you help with this issue post.

Have a box that was working, then some MS updates broke something on the box. Tried to reinstall Backupexec and failed on SQL Express.

Uninstalled all of it, cleaned out registry and some other bits, files, etc.. and still will nto go.
Downloaded a new SQL express and that installed okay, as did the updates.

Backupexec still will not work, tried Darren's advice about VSS the other day, still nothing.

Symantec has been working on a different problem and this was a secondary box which was to do full backups of laptop users but now is needed to work properly.

When running the WMI diags it shows issues, followed the steps to rebuild and clean but still no luck. WMI is reported as a pre-install error by Backupexec.

Any input welcome as I try other ways to get this done?

Symantec BackupExec for Domino Fix for Hang

I was not very happy with Symantec for dropping my ticket because we took too long to resolve it. See earlier post.
Some people at Symantec did care enough to get in touch with me and help resolve a problem that as it turns out plagued both Darren and I.
Thanks to Russ and Ron for their help.

The issue was after installation you want to set up your backup for Domino.

But when we would go to click on the list of Domino databases, well you clikc on the drive letter first, it would never come back and show the list. Eventually you have to exit or stop the processes and that got annoying.

What took 4 months+ to figure out is there was a file in the wrong place on the server.

The ndgts.dll file which should be found in c:\lotus\domino was in c:\lotus\domino\data incorrectly.
 What we both found was we also had a version in the correct place. the correct version was in the correct place, but the incorrect version, which looked to be from Domino 8.5.2 or 8.5.0 must have been installed incorrectly during a fixpack update or some other way. Maybe my IBM support friends will have some insight.

Deleting the file from the wrong place, rebooting the physical server(to clear the dll from memory) allowed the process to continue.

As Russ said on the comments to the other post:

It turned out in both cases that there was an older Domino DLL (NDGTS.DLL) in the Domino data folder that the Backup Exec agent was finding before getting to the proper version in the Domino binaries location. Have a look here for the resulting fix Technote. http://www.symantec.com/docs/S:TECH164926

Thank you to Symantec again.

Symantec Customer Service Fails

Due to the length of time to resolve a problem? Which is still unsolved.

Backup Exec will not work on one of the Domino servers at a client site.
We have been working this issue now for 3 months and have done various updates, system changes, debugs, and still no luck.

The backup fails when one tries to select Domino databases in a directory, it just hangs and never comes back. No other servers have this issue. The server has even been rebuilt and moved off VM, increased the RAM and other efforts.

Today I logged in to find this message. We were closed because it took too much time to not resolve a problem? Note they were to get some more details from me the next day, which I did send, but it was closed. Thanks Darren whoever you are at Symantec.

I got, you got, she's got, he's got

MUTEX. CreateMutex too and the perennial MVP CglobalMutex.
Yes, it's true, you may have this too, but only if you have an old version of Symantec Mail Security for Domino (SMSDOM.exe).

Imagine my surprise when setting up an LDAPsearch test with a client and see this error:

SMSDOM Panic: CreateMutex failed in CGlobalMutex constructor
[Windows Err Num: 5 (0x5): Access is denied.]

Now I know BES has the discombobulator and Domino has its own funny messages, but never hit this one until today.

Quick search of the IBM toolbar shows only 2 references, this and that technotes. The latter one is related to an LEI error of the same nature.

This says:

This issue with terminal service is fixed in Domino 6.5.6 and 7.0.2 levels. If running at levels below, issue the command locally on the server.

WAIT! That's not what we were doing at all, but it explains a lot, server is 7.0.1 What's interesting is we were running ldapsearch of course locally and in a command prompt. Maybe I should let support know this message needs to include these options.

They basically tell you to go here(syamntec's technote) which of course says:

To mitigate the problem, install update your version of Symantec Mail Security for Domino.
The Symantec Mail Security for Domino extension manager must load Nnem.dll in the same instance of NNTASK for proper operation.

So go get an updated version.

Client decided they don't need it anymore and anyway they have the new version just never installed it. They are going to Barracuda, thus the LDAP call.

I am never amazed at the excellent coding error messages displayed from vendors.

Symantec Support for Domino R8

As a BP, and previous manager of alliance partners, I have some understanding for Lotus partners.
But, sometimes in our madness for efficiency, we neglect the simple premise:
The customer deserves to be helped first and foremost.

All I need to know is does Symantec support R8 yet in their Anti-virus program and backup-exec agent program. Simple right? NOT!

Having loved Norton Utilities and products since before Peter sold them, I tend to give Symantec the benfit of the doubt and still use their products in various forms.

One of my clients uses backup exec(I used to use this 4 mergers back before Veritas had it). And while planning for the migration to 8.0.1 we were checking if the backup agents, and server AV work with it.
Normally simple enough but as I could not find the informationm on the Syamntec website, I tried their online chat.

Ok so I was #11 or something in queue, took about 20 minutes to a half hour to chat with someone.

As they could not help me or had no idea what Lotus Domino was or if they support it(Thanks Samson of Symantec Chat) he sent me to their SMB sales line.

Called the 800# and spoke to somoene who I could barely understand and I have worked with many people around the world, evidently not all of them.

She told me she could not help me, on the sales line, I should call tech support, gave me the number.

Called tech support 800 #. No product no support. Huh? Without a licence code or some other method they are unable to log a call for me, even though all I want is to know the R8 support.
Tried to send me back to sales. I reminded him they sent me to him.
He apologized but could not help me.

I suggested I would have to seek a new vendor. After that statement I was sent to some one named Shann who was very helpful, but alas, could only confirm what was on the site, namely 6.x and 7.x.

And told me to check when it would be available at their site with a URL of http://www.symantec.com/business/support/

Thanked her and hung up.

Now, maybe if I was a Symantec BP I could get more insight, but to be honest R8 has been out a for a few months now and their site should let people know it supports it or it will in Q1? Hopefully?

See you in Orlando and you can bet who I am going to see in the product showcase.