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Problems with SmarterStats after recent update
Question asked by Randy Armbrecht - 4/30/2014 at 11:39 AM
Answered
we updated our SmarterStats from the v8.4 to the most recent update release of v8.5.5220.  Did all the correct things... stopped IIS; backed up data; performed the update; reset the SSTats service to the unique user account we have always used for this (acct has admin privileges) and restarted service; disabled the built-in internal web server; restarted IIS.  We can login to the web interface with no issues; customers can login to their accounts via web interface with no issues.  And stats are appearing to be obtained correctly.
 
The problem we are having is this error we get every hour or so:
SmarterStats: Server localhost could not be contacted. This occurred while updating the site list. Error was: Access to the path 'C:\Program Files (x86)\SmarterTools\SmarterStats\Service\SiteList.dat' is denied.
The self-diagnostics all come back as passing.
 
We do not touch the SStats server much as far as the SStats software (just not needed), and therefore never get into an automatic "this is what you do from memory" routine.  I do not see where any special permissions in the install directions are needed.  But I must be missing something.

Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance!

Randy A.
 

16 Replies

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Antonio Trentacoste Replied
Good luck trying to get anyone from Smarter Tools to answer you. I paid the expensive price for  phone support ticket and I have to CONTINUOUSLY bark at them to assist me.
 
I am having the same issue. Once I get this resolved I will post the fix here.
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
Antonio,
 
If I get a resolve I will post back here as well.
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post
That file stores settings for each site so that the service knows how to import things.  If it's not writable, you won't be able to add new sites and actually have them import.
 
A few things to check, in order:
 
First, the SmarterStats service does need full control over the install folder (specifically the service folder and all subdirectories).  It could be that those permissions were reset when the installer did its update.  This is especially true if you changed the service to run under a different user account.
 
Second, I know it's cliche, but a reboot may help.  It's possible the sitelist file got locked and just needs a restart to unlock it.  If you want to investigate this first before rebooting, try running a utility like http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/
 
Third, if you have an anti-virus, exclude that file.  To prevent loss of data in case of power failure, SmarterStats writes this file by writing first to a temp file, then renaming the old file to a backup, then renaming the temp file to the actual file, in rapid succession.  Your anti-virus may be triggering on the file during these operations and locking it for a scan.
 
Lastly, check to make sure that the read-only flag didn't somehow get set on that file.
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Derek Curtis Replied
Employee Post
Antonio, you should be getting a call today in addition to the follow up email you received. There are some files the developers are seeking from you to help troubleshoot the issue.
Derek Curtis COO SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
I have added the User Account that the SStats service runs under to the Service folder with Full perms.  I'll see if this corrects things here after a bit
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
adding the service user account to the "Service" folder with FULL permissions did not help the situation
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post
What about the other suggestions?
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
A. We have rebooted the server numerous times. Even doing a complete uninstall and re-install.
B. We do not run AV on this server
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post
Last thing I can think of to try:

1 - Stop the SmarterStats service
2 - Rename the SiteList.dat file to something else (like SiteList.backup)
3 - Start the service again
4 - Reset IIS
5 - Log into SmarterStats

This will cause the web interface to push a completely new copy of the sitelist file to the service.
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
I just did that. will wait a bit and see if same errors come across. thanks for recommendation!
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
now i'm getting a different error....uuuggghhhhhh
SmarterStats: Server localhost could not be contacted. This occurred while updating the site list. Error was: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post
Any stack trace below that error in the logs in the MRS\App_Data\Logs folder?
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Randy Armbrecht Replied
[5/22/2014 6:22:31 PM] Exception caught** Server localhost - System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Server stack trace:
at SStatSvc.Communication.SiteList.FullSiteUpdate(String authString, String siteDefaults, String siteDetails, ConfigSeoSettings[] seoSettings, ConfigSiteTuning[] tuningSettings)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink._PrivateProcessMessage(IntPtr md, Object[] args, Object server, Object[]& outArgs)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink.SyncProcessMessage(IMessage msg)

Exception rethrown at [0]:
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
at SSWeb.HelperClasses.ServiceCommunication.RemoteAsyncFullSiteUpdate.EndInvoke(IAsyncResult result)
at SSWeb.HelperClasses.ServiceCommunication.ReTransmit()
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post
We have made a build of stats 8 that may resolve the issue and also logs more information about this exception for us to be able to pinpoint it if it recurs. I will send you an email shortly with instructions.
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post
For any following this post, we have resolved the problem and have sent Randy a build. Just waiting for confirmation that it's resolved and we'll post more information.
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com
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Grady Werner Replied
Employee Post Marked As Answer
This bug was fixed in version 8.5.5266 of SmarterStats, which has been made available on smartertools.com for download.
Grady Werner SmarterTools Inc. www.smartertools.com

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