Closed Bug 62888 Opened 24 years ago Closed 8 years ago

Read Only Cache doesn't generate userfriendly errors [samba share profile with two user accounts]

Categories

(Core :: Networking: Cache, defect, P3)

x86
Windows 98
defect

Tracking

()

RESOLVED WONTFIX
mozilla1.2alpha

People

(Reporter: brian, Unassigned)

References

Details

Build ID: In Netscape 6-2000121404

I seem to have found an interesting bug that I can't quite put my finger on.  
Here is my setup.  I used Mozilla to create 3 profiles on I:\ which points to a 
smb share on my home linux server (I don't believe the poblem lies with the 
server).  Then, I installed the same version of Mozilla on another computer.  
After running mozilla one time on the other computer, I copied the 
c:\windows\application data\mozilla\*, c:\windows\nsreg.dat,mozver.dat(not sure 
if this one mozilla related), and mozregistry.dat.  The profiles will be loaded 
fine on the other computer, and everything will work great, for a while.

Then, every so often, on JUST ONE computer, the browser will quit working.  It 
will still funciton fine on the other.  Let me elaborate.  You can enter as 
many remote URLs as you like, but none will ever load.  The content screen will 
remain blank.  You can view local files (even html files) on your hard drive 
fine though.  Email, Bookmarks, etc all function properly though.  I haven't 
found a set way to fix/duplicate this problem for sure.  Sometimes (not 
always), clearning out the homepage entries in the prefs.js file work.  More 
often than not, I have to either delete the prefs.js file or re-create the 
profile.  It will then work fine for a while.  I've saved working copies of the 
prefs.js file and compared them to broken copies, but there is NO difference.  

I've been struggling with thigs bug for a few months now and still can't find a 
definate test case.  There is no pattern to this (I know that's just what 
everyone wanted to hear :)  ).  However, I am convinced this is a bug and I'm 
hoping someone else can help make a test-case.  

Just so you know, I at times, I have switched between computers and opened and 
closed the profile, but that doesn't always cause the bug.  I have a hunch that 
it deals with the home page, but I can't confirm that.  

Thanks for your help!  If anyone has any ideas, want's me to try something, 
etc, let me know!  Thanks!
Just noticed one other thing.  If you go to a http: site that generates an 
error (404 File N. F., etc), the error displays.  Interesting, isn't it. :))
Could prefs.js have locking issues?
Bingo.  I just nailed this one on the head.  To make it short, it's about 1/2
Samba/Linux's fault and 1/2 Mozilla's fault.  The problem boils down to a bug in
Mozilla's cache handling.

Now for the long detailed explanation for us techies. :)

On our network, there are two computers and a server.  On the server, there are
two login accounts (larry & brian - one for each computer).  They both are part
of the same group.  That way, both computers can get at all the profiles.  I
then set all the files/directories so they were of that group with 770 permissions.

Anyway, say I'm on the first computer (logged in as larry) using a profile.  I'm
suring the net.  Mozilla is creating folders in the cache with the owner as
larry, group agcheck, and permissions (drwxr-x-r-x - 755).  Then when I switch
to the other computer (logged in as brian) and access the same profile, Mozilla
has problems.  It is because there is no write premission to one of those
subdirectories under the chache folder!  That would explain why just starting &
closing mozilla & switching computers doesn't cause the problem.  That also
explains why it is so intermittent.  Depends which folder Mozilla is writing
files in and who created that folder.

It may look like the server is 100% at fault.  It isn't quite.  Mozilla should
report some sort of error if it can't write the cache file.  This problem also
shouldn't stop web pages from loading entirely.  IMHO, mozilla should report the
error, give an option to change the directory (or something of the like), and if
error continues, just bypass the cache.  Minimumly, Mozilla should load the web
page anyway.  Thanks for all your help! :)
Confirming and sending to Networking:Cache. Changing summary.
Assignee: asa → neeti
Status: UNCONFIRMED → NEW
Component: Browser-General → Networking: Cache
Ever confirmed: true
QA Contact: doronr → gordon
Summary: Browser won't work sometimes when sharing a profile between computers. → Read Only Cache doesn't generate userfriendly errors [samba share profile with two user accounts]
Nominating mozilla0.9 since this can cripple Netscape.  
Keywords: mozilla0.9
Added nsbeta1 keyword
Keywords: nsbeta1
Cache bugs to Gordon
Assignee: neeti → gordon
Target Milestone: --- → mozilla1.0
Nominating mozilla1.0, but I still need to check if it is an issue in the new
cache.
Keywords: mozilla0.9mozilla1.0
Still issue in new cache.  If cache is read-only, Mozilla will not display any 
errors and refuses to load any pages.  It would be nice to see an error 
reported and have the browser continue to operate in a non-cache mode.
Blocks: 104166
Moving Netscape owned 0.9.9 and 1.0 bugs that don't have an nsbeta1, nsbeta1+,
topembed, topembed+, Mozilla0.9.9+ or Mozilla1.0+ keyword.  Please send any
questions or feedback about this to adt@netscape.com.  You can search for
"Moving bugs not scheduled for a project" to quickly delete this bugmail.
Target Milestone: mozilla1.0 → mozilla1.2
Blocks: 101953
Keywords: mozilla1.0
Assignee: gordon → nobody
Severity: normal → minor
QA Contact: gordon → networking.cache
Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 8 years ago
Resolution: --- → WONTFIX
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