Why do my Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collectors fail to write to my ACT Log Share?

Posted by Jay Michaud on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by Jay Michaud
Published on 2010-08-11T15:48:46Z Indexed on 2011/01/29 15:27 UTC
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I am trying to get the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.6 (version 5.6.7320.0) to work, but I cannot get the Data Collectors to write to the ACT Log Share.


The configuration is as follows.

Machine: ACT-Server
Domain: mydomain.example.com
OS: Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit Edition
Windows Firewall configuration: File and Printer Sharing (SMB-In) is enabled for Public, Domain, and Private networks ACT Log Share: ACT
Share permissions*:

Group/user names   Allow permissions
---------------------------------------
Everyone           Full Control
Administrator      Full Control  
Domain Admins      Full Control  
Administrators     Full Control  
ANONYMOUS LOGON    Full Control

Folder permissions*:

Group/user name   Allow permissions   Apply to
-------------------------------------------------
ANONYMOUS LOGON   Read, write & execute    This folder, subfolders, and files  
Domain Admins     Full control             This folder, subfolders, and files
Everyone          Read, write & execute    This folder, subfolders, and files
Administrators    Full control             This folder, subfolders, and files
CREATOR OWNER     Full control             Subfolders and files
SYSTEM            Full control             This folder, subfolders, and files
INTERACTIVE       Traverse folder /        This folder, subfolders, and files
                           execute file,
                  List folder / read data,
                  Read attributes,
                  Read extended attributes,
                  Create files / write data,
                  Create folders / append data,
                  Write attributes,
                  Write extended attributes,
                  Delete subfolders and files,
                  Delete, Read permissions
SERVICE           (same as INTERACTIVE)
BATCH             (same as INTERACTIVE)

*I am fully aware that these permissions are excessive, but that is beside the point of this question.


Some of the clients running the Data Collector are domain members, but some are not. I am working under the assumption that this is a Windows file sharing permission issue or a network access policy issue, but of course, I could be wrong.

It is my understanding that the Data Collector runs in the security context of the SYSTEM account, which for domain members appears on the network as MYDOMAIN\machineaccount. It is also my understanding from reading numerous pieces of documentation that setting the ANONYMOUS LOGON permissions as I have above should allow these computer accounts and non-domain-joined computers to access the share.

To test connectivity, I set up the Windows XP Mode virtual machine (VM) on ACT-Server. In the VM, I opened a command prompt running as SYSTEM (using the old "at" command trick). I used this command prompt to run explorer.exe. In this Windows Explorer instance, I typed \ACT-Server\ACT into the address bar, and then I was prompted for logon credentials. The goal, though, was not to be prompted. I also used the "net use /delete" command in the command prompt window to delete connections to the ACT-Server\IPC$ share each time my connection attempt failed.

I have made sure that the appropriate exceptions are

Since ACT-Server is a domain member, the "Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts" security policy is set to "Classic - local users authenticate as themselves". In spite of this, I still tried enabling the Guest account and adding permissions for it on the share to no effect.

What am I missing here? How do I allow anonymous logons to a shared folder as a step toward getting my ACT Data Collectors to deposit their data correctly? Am I even on the right track, or is the issue elsewhere?

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