Utility to remove the "Execute Only" File attribute

  • Document ID:7001263
  • Creation Date:02-Sep-2008
  • Modified Date:27-Apr-2012
    • Micro Focus Products:
      Client for Open Enterprise Server (Novell Client)
      NetWare

Environment

Novell NetWare 6.5

Situation

When a file is marked "Execute Only" it cannot be copied anymore which may cause tape backup software to be unable to back it up.

Resolution

There are two methods/utilities for removing the Execute Only (X) file attribute:

Method/Utility 1 - NSSCPT

NSS enginereeng has added ATTRIB functionality to NSSCPT.NLM as of October 4, 2004. This utility is normally available in the TOOLS\NSSTOOLS subdirectory of the NetWare 6.5 Support Packs. However, since the functionality was only added 10/4/2004, you must obtain the file from Novell Technical Support until the release of NetWare 6.5 SP3 or newer. Once you have the correct file, the following server console command will remove the "Execute Only" file attribute from ALL files on a volume:

NSSCPT SYS:\ -ATTRIB -X -INCDIRS -D
For more details about the NSSCPT.NLM utility, including other options, attribute settings and errors see TID 10093361.


Method/Utility 2 - FILEATTRIBUTE.EXE

Novell has developed a utility called FileAttribute.exe that can be used with NSS volumes on NetWare 6.5 to remove the Execute Only (X) flag on any file. It is a graphical utility, so it can be run from any current Novell client workstation installed. It will allow you to see and modify any of the file attributes on a file on an NSS volume. It does so one file at a time (no batch methods like NSSCPT). It also has only been tested successfully so far with NetWare 6.5 SP2 and newer (not NetWare 6.0 or 5.1).
 
NOTE:  This file is only available with the assistance of Novell Technical Support.  Please contact Novell Technical Support if you are in need of this utility.

WARNING: You must disable the Novell Client "File Caching". If you don't disable the client caching, it can cause errors.

To disable Novell Client Caching perform the following steps:
 
1. Go to Start  \ Control Panel \ Network Connections.
2. Right mouse click on Local Area Connection (or the connection you  are using) and select "Properties".
3. Highlight "Novell Client for Windows" and click on "Properties".
4. Click on the "Advanced Settings" tab.
5. Highlight the "File Caching" entry and change the drop down "Setting" to Off.
 
You will need to reboot for the setting to take effect.

Once you have the File Caching disabled on the Novell client, use the following steps to remove the "Execute Only"  flag from a file on a NetWare NSS pool/volume:
 
1. Launch the attached FileAttribute.exe file (it is a Win32 application).
2. Click the "Browse" button at the bottom of the screen of the "NetWare Information" tab.
3. Browse the to file with the X flag and click on "OK".
4. In the "Attributes" pane of the "NetWare Information" tab, unmark the "Execute" option.
5. Click on the "Apply" button.

Additional Information

Formerly known as TID# 10095051