Gen PTF install "Access is denied" message and PTF debug logging

Products

• Gen - Workstation Toolset
• Gen
• Gen - Run Time Distributed

Issue/Introduction

During a Gen 8.6 PTF install an "Access is denied" message is displayed in the Command Prompt launched using "Run as administrator"
This happens when installing WKS86200 or WKS86300 and it is not clear if the PTF installed or failed.

Environment

Gen PTFs for Windows and Unix/Linux platforms.

Resolution

In order to assist in debugging the installation of Gen PTFs, both on Windows and Unix/Linux systems, the setup scripts have been enhanced to provide a debug log of the installation.
This enhancement behaves similar to a silent installation, in that there is no user interaction.
The debugging can be achieved with the use of the environment variable GEN_PTF_DEBUG. As long as this environment variable is set (to anything), the PTF will generate a debug log file.

Windows PTF Installation
On Windows, the install script is automatically launched when executing the self-extracting executable <PTFname>z.exe.

• If the environment variable GEN_PTF_DEBUG is set, there will not be a prompt to either install or quit, and the installation will take place and generate the file <PTFname>_debug.log in the current directory.
  
  
• If performing an uninstall (and have the environment variable set), there will not be a prompt to either back out or quit, and the uninstall will take place and generate the file <PTFname>_debug.log in the current directory.

Unix/Linux PTF Installation
On Unix/Linux platforms, the setup script is extracted from the <PTFname>.tar file. The setup script has not been customized for the specific PTF being installed (as it is for Windows), so there is a need to provide some data to the script to perform the install or uninstall activity.

Therefore, along with setting the environment variable GEN_PTF_DEBUG, the following parameters need to be provided when executing the script:

1. Either –i (install) Or –b (back out)
2. PTFname
3. Redirection to the debug log file

For example:
./setup –i rtx86201 > rtx86201_debug.log 2>&1
./setup –b rtx86201 > rtx86201_debug.log 2>&1

If performing an install/uninstall (and have the environment variable set), there will not be a prompt to either install or back out, and the install/uninstall will take place and generate the file provided for redirection in the current directory.

 

NOTE:  This change to PTF debugging was included in PTFs created after Jan 10, 2025. PTFs created before that date do not have the debugging.