Cracking the Vault

Vault login problem "Unhandled exception has occurred"

When trying to log in to Vault Server, you see this message.

"Unhandled exception has occurred"
"The request failed with HTTP status 415: Unsupported media type"

Extended error information is

************** Exception Text **************
System.Net.WebException: The request failed with HTTP status 415: Unsupported Media Type.
at Autodesk.Connectivity.WebServices.InformationSvc._InformationService.Invoke(String methodName, Object[] parameters)
at Autodesk.Connectivity.WebServices.InformationSvc._InformationService.GetSupportedProducts()
at Connectivity.Proxies.Information.InformationServiceMethods.GetSupportedProducts(String remoteHost)
at Connectivity.Request.Vault.Internal.Utils.InformationServiceCfg.get_SupportedProducts()
at Connectivity.Request.Vault.Request.Information.GetSupportedProducts.Execute(RequestContext rContext)
at Connectivity.Request.Common.CommonRequest`1.ExecuteRequest(RequestContext rContext)
at Connectivity.Request.Runtime.RequestExecutor.Execute(IRequest req, RequestInstance reqInstance)
at Connectivity.Common.Vault.ViewModel.VaultConnection.GetSupportedProducts(String serverName)
at Connectivity.Common.Vault.SignIn.a(Exception A_0)
at Connectivity.Common.Vault.SignIn.l(Object A_0, EventArgs A_1)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

This can happen if there is a problem with the files in the default C:\Inetpub folder. One investigation revealed that an administrator had moved that folder in Windows without updating IIS Mananger.

In some cases this has been resolved by reinstalling or repairing the Vault Server installation.

#22 Do... Run A B2BMigrate after Importing a Configuration

In the ADMS Console, you can Export and Import Configurations from other Vault Databases.

 

For more information on Importing and Exporting Configurations, please refer to the Vault Wiki.

More Information on the types of information that is included in the Configuration File can be found here "Secrets of the Vault Configuration File" 

The Best Practice is... after importing the configuration file, run a -Ob2bmigrate to ensure that the changes are fully implemented.

If you create a new Vault database using a configuration file, it should not be necessary to run a -Ob2bmigrate.

#13 Don't... Attach a Database from One Master to Another

In every Vault readme that is released, it states the following:-

"Detaching a Vault and attaching it to a new server installation, without also attaching the Knowledge Vault Master, will lose all non default users and corresponding data. All detach and subsequent attach cases should include all Vaults as well as the Knowledge Vault Master."

Improving Grid Population Performance in any Vault Client

If you have a large number of files in a folder and navigating between folders is taking a long time, here's a handy tip.

Select the folder containing large numbers of files. Then right click the column header and select "Customize View".

Click "Custom Filters"

 Click the Basic Tab and enter a wildcard search of *

Click OK.

Custom Filters is then followed by "Any property contains*"

Click "Close" and that folder will have now use the Search "Paging" functionality and a yellow ribbon is then dispalyed at the bottom with a "More" button.

Now, whenever you navigate to that folder, it should not take so long to populate the grid.

 

If you want to avoid setting this up for all folders, you can define a Custom View that can be applied without having to configure it each time.

In the Toolbar at the top of the Vault Interface, expand the pulldown arrow under "Default View"  and click "Define custom views..."

It is a wish to implement this in a future release in a more user friendly way, but for now I wanted to share in case you are struggling with this in Vault 2012.

Localising the Language of the Web Client

After installing Vault Server in one language, English for example, you would like to have a localised version of the web client displayed, German for example.

The language of the web client is dictated by the language of the Server and it cannot be changed. However, some supported web browsers allow translation addins to be installed so that text in the web page is automatically displayed in the desired language.

The image below is the Vault Professional 2012 Web client, logged into an English Language Vault Server, but the Chrome browser has the Google Translate add-in installed and is displayed in German.

Troubleshooting 'Access Denied' issues related to Vault with Process Monitor

Sometimes you find yourself in a position where either get a pop up error message or in the logfiles you have errors that the access is denied.

Typical scenarios could be:

* You perform a backup and it fails with an error message 'Access Denied' (you see this usually in the logfiles)

* You create a new Vault Workgroup (replication) in Vault Server and get a SQL error 26

* You have problems with rebuilding the Search Index of your Vault and in the logfiles you find entries about Lucene error 227 and such entries:
Access to the path 'C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\VaultServer\Indexes\Vault\write.lock' is denied

And all other issues where you can think of that the root cause could be just a failed windows operation due to lack of permissions.

To troubleshoot the issue you could use Process Monitor (from Microsoft).

1. Download Process Monitor here

2. Run Process Monitor on the Vault Server

3. In Menu Filter go to Filter ...

4. Pick Result and use the condition "is". As value choose: ACCESS DENIED

5. Click add to enable the Filter and then the ok button

6. Press Ctrl + X to clear the current results inside process monitor

7. Reproduce your issue again (try to perform the backup, add the Workgroup, rebuild search indexes etc.)

Now you should see some operations which failed due to the Result "Access Denied" like this:

Knowledge is key!

Autodesk regularly publishes White Papers regarding frequently asked-for topics such as how something works, best practices and optimising performance. There is a wealth of topics covered on the Autodesk Vault White Paper website.

The latest addition to the Vault White Papers website covers tests carried out on Vault speed performance used in conjunction with Riverbed WAN Optimisation technologies. See "Speed collaboration using Autodesk Vault and Riverbed WAN Optimization".

"Geographically dispersed teams using 3D for clear design communication may struggle to collaborate effectively because sharing data using common Microsoft Windows file directories can take too long. Autodesk® Vault helps solve this problem by improving access to the latest designs even across global, wide area networks (WANs). When WANs exhibit high latency, the combination of Autodesk Vault and Riverbed® WAN optimization technology utilizing Steelhead®, a powerful data store and deduplication appliance, provides an effective solution to help maintain fast and efficient design data access. Tests performed by Autodesk illustrate the value of this combination—the addition of WAN optimization may dramatically reduce file transfer by up to 99% without further requirements to upgrade or replace existing software or hardware"

Is it possible split the Vault filestore?

A question that came in regarding a customer who had a very large Filestore.

They wanted to know if it is possible to split the filestore over several disks.

Vault only supports placing the filestore on a single volume.

 

I have previously blogged on the recommended RAID configuration here http://crackingthevault.typepad.com/crackingthevault/2009/07/what-is-the-best-raid-configuration-to-use-for-vault-server.html

"This server must be the same version as the servers in the replication environment and must have the same applications."

If you install a Vault Server Update on one Server, but not another, when you start the ADMS Console on a machine that does not have it installed, you will get this sort of message.

--------------------
Autodesk Data Management Server Console 2012
--------------------
This server must be the same version as the servers in the replication environment and must have the same applications.
You must add or upgrade to the following applications:

  Vault Professional Server 16.1.58.0  (Service Pack 1)
  Vault Server 16.1.58.0  (Service Pack 1)
  Vault Collaboration Server 16.1.58.0  (Service Pack 1)
  Vault Workgroup Server 16.1.58.0  (Service Pack 1)

Service packs are available from:
  www.autodesk.com.
Applications are available from your reseller.

Ctrl+C copies this message to the clipboard
   
--------------------
OK
--------------------

Before running the ADMS Console in a Connected Workgroup, ensure that you have applied the same level of Update as all other Vault Servers. If there are any special instructions in the readme file, such as a -b2bmigrate, that command must be executed on 1 Vault Server in the Publisher Workgroup first.

 

#12 Don't... Use A Long Computer Name (>15 Characters)

Following an experience blogged here, avoid using long file names on machines with Microsoft SQL installed.

It probably won't be a problem until it comes to enabling SQL replication int he ADMS Console (Connected Workgroups).

Limit the Computer Name to 15 characters or less.