8 Replies Latest reply on Oct 2, 2015 9:47 AM by Jeff Strauss

Network file access with distributed servers.

Mark ODonnell Oct 1, 2015 4:28 AM

The environment has a gateway and a worker. My question is, do both the gateway and worker need to be able to see a network drive in order for the users to publish workbooks with live connections to data files stored on the network drive.

I have an issue with one workbook that receives "access denied" errors when published to server. Both the desktop client and and worker server can see and open the file. The gateway can't see the file.

This is the first time I have run into this issue. Normally both servers can see the file, but I am not sure this would cause access denied.

Thanks.

1. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Jeff Strauss Oct 1, 2015 5:42 AM (in response to Mark ODonnell)

Are you using a UNC path (e.g. \\servername\... ) or a drive letter (e.g. D:\...). Typically I've reserved a location on the worker for server files such as CSV and then have successfully referenced it via the UNC path. One item to also note is that when publishing, don't include external files as this will cause the file location to switch to an internal location that you won't know where it's going.
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2. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Mark ODonnell Oct 1, 2015 5:49 AM (in response to Jeff Strauss)

Yes we are using UNC paths. Interesting part is the Access Denied error is thrown when the work book is published with the option Include External Files unchecked.
So by the rules defined by Tableau we appear to be doing everything correctly. Tableau has the UNC path, and it should be accessing the file directly from the network which it does have read access enabled.
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3. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Jeff Strauss Oct 1, 2015 5:52 AM (in response to Mark ODonnell)

does your Tableau server runas user have read access to the UNC path? Maybe access is denied when the preview is trying to come up.
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4. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Mark ODonnell Oct 1, 2015 5:55 AM (in response to Jeff Strauss)

Yes it does, from the worker but not from the gateway. I have successfully connected to the UNC path and opened the file from the server using that ID.
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5. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Jeff Strauss Oct 1, 2015 6:00 AM (in response to Mark ODonnell)

Perhaps you need to add a share to the directory on the worker. You can right click on the directory and create a share.
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6. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Mark ODonnell Oct 1, 2015 6:07 AM (in response to Jeff Strauss)

I just tried that trick. I added a share on the server to the network location including the folder containing the files and it doesn't work. This is puzzling.
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7. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Jeff Strauss Oct 1, 2015 6:10 AM (in response to Mark ODonnell)

Not sure that I understand what you did. But try this, unless you already tried it

- On the worker, create a share that points at the directory where the file will be saved

- Make sure that you add security within this share so that whatever id's (i.e. runas id) can get to it

- Reference this share directory as a prefix to your filename within your workbook
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8. Re: Network file access with distributed servers.

Jeff Strauss Oct 2, 2015 9:47 AM (in response to Jeff Strauss)

Mark ODonnell is it working now?
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