Re: .old files being created by root


"Steve M. Fabac, Jr." <smfabac@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4930F2D6.7010801@xxxxxxxxxx
DAW wrote:
The question from Steve- "Picked up how?"

The external program running on another server but connected to the
overall system network apparently picks them up with an ftp program. I
have no idea

Well if it is via ftp, then there will be a record of the ftp login
attempts.

Run last | grep ftp and post that result.

Also, check /usr/adm/syslog for ftp records. Does that show anything
interesting?


When logged in via ftp, you can delete files with the "delete filename"
command.

Since it is via ftp, the other end must be running a script (not a human
logging in
to copy/delete files) then my suspicion that the script is simple minded
and
does not handle unforeseen conditions like the target and target.old files
coexisting
at the time the script executes is more probable.

I'm sure it is a simple script and their server has enough logic to collect
all files that fit *.tum and then learn the names of those files and delete
them from the practice output directory.

The other possibility is that the identity used to login via ftp has had
the
account password changed and the script trying to pick up the files has
not
been updated to use the new password.

Have the client execute "ftp localhost" and use the expected login name
and password. She should be in the target directory or some directory
above it so that she can use cd to move down the directory path to the
target directory. If that does not work, then the script won't work.

I'll have to deal with that over the phone and she will have to get the
login name from the third party, if she can.

Have the client answer the rest of my suggestions in my first response.
Then post the results. Since we are trying to diagnose this third hand,
you must answer each of the questions as they all may shed some light
on important information.

So far your answers to the items I suggested you investigate, and gazing
into my crystal ball, allow me to tell you that the ocean is blue.
Not much help with your problem.

Also, you never said if this is an SCO UNIX OS or Linux or some other
UNIX.
Post the results of uname -X.

Thanks,

They are running Open Server 5.xx, not sure of the exact version but will
get that. I don't think that matters much since they are not on 6 and the
process has been doing fine for a year.

Anyhow, your questions are on the way to the client, slightly reformulated.
Will have some input on Monday I hope. The third party company took the
whole weekend off so I still have had no contact with their programmer.

I am not sure I have ever had her run the system with the external box
turned off so she will do that first of all, then respond to your
suggestions.

DAW


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