manual application of hotfixes?

Report · Mar 30, 2009

Hi-

We're running the baseline version of coldfusion 8 using SSL and want to apply a hotfix. The problem is that when we click on the 'BROWSE SERVER ICON" from the System Information area, CF comes back with a "Retrieving Initial Directories" panel but then it just sits there spinnnig it's wheels and never returns. I'm thinking this may have something to do with our SSL configuration but I'm also hoping someone knows a way to temporarily circumvent the issue by manually applying the hotfix. Anyone know of a way to do this?

thanks in avance!
Bill

Report · Mar 30, 2009

68manta wrote:
> Anyone know of a way to do this?

Not for sure *how*, but pretty sure that it can be done.

I believe that all that is required for a hotfix is that the proper jar
file is placed in the proper folder and then have CF restarted.

I suspect the details are out there on the internet somewhere!

Report · Mar 30, 2009

quote:

Originally posted by: Newsgroup User
68manta wrote:
> Anyone know of a way to do this?

Not for sure *how*, but pretty sure that it can be done.

>> Agreed!!! Question is how- the hotfix jar file is: cfh8000003.jar so it's not a straight replace but maybe
>> not far from it.

I believe that all that is required for a hotfix is that the proper jar
file is placed in the proper folder and then have CF restarted.

>> Bet that's very close.

I suspect the details are out there on the internet somewhere!

go west young man go west.

Report · Mar 30, 2009

Bill, I think I may have an answer. I'm not quite sure why it'd "spinning", but I have a possible conclusion below. First, I'd want to note a couple of things.

Most important, though, in case it can't be solved, I'd note that browse tool is just a convenience. If you know the path and filename you want to point to, you can just type it in. (If you're browsing the CF Admin remotely, the path needs to be that on the remote machine, such as its c: drive, not your z: drive.)

Beyond that, first, the browse button is a java-based feature, so if your browser doesn't support Java, that could be an issue.

But second, something else could be hurting you, and I wonder if this may be your issue. Many don't realize it, but if you disable RDS on a server (an option offered at installation, or configurable at any time per this technote: http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_17276), then those browse buttons in the CF Admin don't work. Now, you should see an error message, "Server Error: io error on communication with the server" (and there's a separate technote, http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_18046, which points that error to the other technote.)

Of course, enabling RDS is discouraged on any public-facing server, and in fact the installer discourages it, so many accept the offer to disable it. But it does indicate also this impact on the browse feature (but at installation, one may not appreciate the significance.)

You say things are just spinning, and I wonder if something is precluding the display of that message (which is a graphic) in that prompt. In fact, if I mouse over it, it does show the "spinning" icon as well, so I'm betting this is this the issue. Let us know.

Or, again, just type the path/filename in manually, if you don't want to enable RDS.

PS I will note that one other reason people don't use RDS is because it relies on a single password to be shared by all who would use it. There's a new feature in CF 8 Enterprise to address that, in the new option to enable multiple different user accounts for both the Administrator and RDS. In fact, I just did an Adobe DevCenter article introducing this at length. It's supposed to be coming out later today (at 4pm eastern), I would assume at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/coldfusion/.

/Charlie (troubleshooter, carehart. org)

Report · Mar 30, 2009

quote:

Originally posted by: carehart
Bill, I think I may have an answer. I'm not quite sure why it'd "spinning", but I have a possible conclusion below. First, I'd want to note a couple of things.

Most important, though, in case it can't be solved, I'd note that browse tool is just a convenience. If you know the path and filename you want to point to, you can just type it in. (If you're browsing the CF Admin remotely, the path needs to be that on the remote machine, such as its c: drive, not your z: drive.)

>> Tried both leaving it blank as well as giving it the directory where the new jar file resides.
>> I suspect it may not like the SSL connection. . .

Beyond that, first, the browse button is a java-based feature, so if your browser doesn't support Java, that could be an issue.

>> After clicking on "Browse Server", java comes up as [i think] intended, and I believe a dir type command is
>> issued and no result is returned, possibly because the command is not gettnig thru or the result is coming back
>> via http instead https on [perhaps] the wrong port.

But second, something else could be hurting you, and I wonder if this may be your issue. Many don't realize it, but if you disable RDS on a server (an option offered at installation, or configurable at any time per this technote: http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_17276), then those browse buttons in the CF Admin don't work. Now, you should see an error message, "Server Error: io error on communication with the server" (and there's a separate technote, http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_18046, which points that error to the other technote.)

>> Could be a problem but don't see an error msg.

Of course, enabling RDS is discouraged on any public-facing server, and in fact the installer discourages it, so many accept the offer to disable it. But it does indicate also this impact on the browse feature (but at installation, one may not appreciate the significance.)

You say things are just spinning,

>> I should have said - "it's just spinning it's wheels waiting for a response from the server". Sorry about that.
>> As soon as you click "Browse Server", the "Select File on Server" panel comes up and the hour glass
>> will sit there forever...or at least an hour.

and I wonder if something is precluding the display of that message (which is a graphic) in that prompt. In fact, if I mouse over it, it does show the "spinning" icon as well, so I'm betting this is this the issue. Let us know.

Or, again, just type the path/filename in manually, if you don't want to enable RDS.

>> Same result either way- hour glass just sits there

PS I will note that one other reason people don't use RDS is because it relies on a single password to be shared by all who would use it. There's a new feature in CF 8 Enterprise to address that, in the new option to enable multiple different user accounts for both the Administrator and RDS. In fact, I just did an Adobe DevCenter article introducing this at length. It's supposed to be coming out later today (at 4pm eastern), I would assume at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/coldfusion/.

Is there a way to apply the fix manually?

thanks for the time- it is much appreciated!!
cheers,
Bill

thanks!!
Bill

Report · Mar 30, 2009

quote:

Originally posted by: carehart
Bill, I think I may have an answer. I'm not quite sure why it'd "spinning", but I have a possible conclusion below. First, I'd want to note a couple of things.

Most important, though, in case it can't be solved, I'd note that browse tool is just a convenience. If you know the path and filename you want to point to, you can just type it in. (If you're browsing the CF Admin remotely, the path needs to be that on the remote machine, such as its c: drive, not your z: drive.)

>> Tried both leaving it blank as well as giving it the directory where the new jar file resides.
>> I suspect it may not like the SSL connection. . .

Beyond that, first, the browse button is a java-based feature, so if your browser doesn't support Java, that could be an issue.

>> After clicking on "Browse Server", java comes up as [i think] intended, and I believe a dir type command is
>> issued and no result is returned, possibly because the command is not gettnig thru or the result is coming back
>> via http instead https on [perhaps] the wrong port.

But second, something else could be hurting you, and I wonder if this may be your issue. Many don't realize it, but if you disable RDS on a server (an option offered at installation, or configurable at any time per this technote: http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_17276), then those browse buttons in the CF Admin don't work. Now, you should see an error message, "Server Error: io error on communication with the server" (and there's a separate technote, http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_18046, which points that error to the other technote.)

>> Could be a problem but don't see an error msg.

Of course, enabling RDS is discouraged on any public-facing server, and in fact the installer discourages it, so many accept the offer to disable it. But it does indicate also this impact on the browse feature (but at installation, one may not appreciate the significance.)

You say things are just spinning,

>> I should have said - "it's just spinning it's wheels waiting for a response from the server". Sorry about that.
>> As soon as you click "Browse Server", the "Select File on Server" panel comes up and the hour glass
>> will sit there forever...or at least an hour.

and I wonder if something is precluding the display of that message (which is a graphic) in that prompt. In fact, if I mouse over it, it does show the "spinning" icon as well, so I'm betting this is this the issue. Let us know.

Or, again, just type the path/filename in manually, if you don't want to enable RDS.

>> Same result either way- hour glass just sits there

PS I will note that one other reason people don't use RDS is because it relies on a single password to be shared by all who would use it. There's a new feature in CF 8 Enterprise to address that, in the new option to enable multiple different user accounts for both the Administrator and RDS. In fact, I just did an Adobe DevCenter article introducing this at length. It's supposed to be coming out later today (at 4pm eastern), I would assume at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/coldfusion/.

Is there a way to apply the fix manually?

thanks for the time- it is much appreciated!!
cheers,
Bill

thanks!!
Bill

Report · Mar 30, 2009

Bill, you said, " Tried both leaving it blank as well as giving it the directory where the new jar file resides."

Well, you don't just point at the directory, you need to point at the file, too. I wonder if the immediate solution will be as simple as that.

You go on to say, "I suspect it may not like the SSL connection." Sure, that may be a factor, too. I don't know. I've not heard this being an issue, but it could be.

You also theorize about a port problem. Well, the browser would send the request back on the same from which the Admin was served. I don't think that's an issue.

To my observation about how the disabling of the RDS feature may be causing it, and would show that error, you say, "don't see an error". Again, that could be why instead you just see the "spinning". (I got your later clarification of what you meant by that, but still.)

So first, try typing the path and the file name. If that still doesn't work (it really should), or if you want the browse working, can you confirm if you have RDS disabled. You can't tell via the CF admin in any way, but the technote points to the XML file which will tell you.

/Charlie (troubleshooter, carehart. org)

Report · Mar 30, 2009

quote:

Originally posted by: carehart
Bill, you said, " Tried both leaving it blank as well as giving it the directory where the new jar file resides."

Well, you don't just point at the directory, you need to point at the file, too. I wonder if the immediate solution will be as simple as that.

>> Thanks. Tried that one too. Sad to say, No go.

You go on to say, "I suspect it may not like the SSL connection." Sure, that may be a factor, too. I don't know. I've not heard this being an issue, but it could be.

>>

You also theorize about a port problem. Well, the browser would send the request back on the same from which the Admin was served. I don't think that's an issue.

>> Asuming the request reaches the server, you are correct.

To my observation about how the disabling of the RDS feature may be causing it, and would show that error, you say, "don't see an error". Again, that could be why instead you just see the "spinning". (I got your later clarification of what you meant by that, but still.)

So first, try typing the path and the file name. If that still doesn't work (it really should), or if you want the browse working, can you confirm if you have RDS disabled. You can't tell via the CF admin in any way, but the technote points to the XML file which will tell you.

>> I do want the browse working, but even more I'm wondering how to apply the fix without it-

thanks!
Bill

Report · Mar 30, 2009

Bill, you say that trying to manually type in the path was a "no go". Can you be more explicit? We're here trying to help. We need more details.

I'll repeat: I DID apply a hotfix this way, today.

Are you saying the submit fails? Or you get no confirmation? Or it doesn't show up?

I'll add that if you may be looking for the "update level" field of that System Information page, that won't change, with either a hotfix or cumulative hotfix.

But I'm guessing you're still having an issue with the submission itself. Please do clarify.

/Charlie (troubleshooter, carehart. org)

Report · Mar 31, 2009

68manta wrote:
> We're running the baseline version of coldfusion 8 using SSL and want to
> apply a hotfix. The problem is that when we click on the 'BROWSE SERVER ICON"
> from the System Information area, CF comes back with a "Retrieving Initial
> Directories" panel but then it just sits there spinnnig it's wheels and never
> returns. I'm thinking this may have something to do with our SSL configuration
> but I'm also hoping someone knows a way to temporarily circumvent the issue by
> manually applying the hotfix. Anyone know of a way to do this?

Shut down CF, drop the .jar file in */WEB-INF/cfusion/lib/updates/ and
restart CF.

Jochem

--
Jochem van Dieten
Adobe Community Expert for ColdFusion