Troubleshooting
Problem
User launches Controller via website (typically via http://servername/cognos8/controllerbin/ccr.exe. User receives error message inside Internet Explorer.
Symptom
Error - Microsoft Internet Explorer
CGI Error
The specified CGI application misbehaved by not returning a complete set of HTTP headers.
Cause
The error "The specified CGI application misbehaved" is generic - there are several potential causes for this/similar message:
- Scenario #1 - Permissions for the IIS website's virtual directory 'ControllerBin' are set incorrectly.
- For example, they are incorrectly configured to allow 'Scripts and Executables' (rather than the correct 'Scripts Only' value, as described in the installation documentation).
- Scenario #2 - The IIS Handler "CGI-exe" is enabled (for the virtual directory 'controllerbin')
- For more details, see separate IBM Technote #1506702.
- Scenario #3 - Microsoft security (e.g. Windows 2003 patches) stopping CGI processes from working.
- For more details, see separate IBM Technote #1618592.
Resolving The Problem
Scenario #1
Modify the permissions for the /Cognos8/ControllerBin virtual directory to 'Scripts Only'.
Steps:
- Logon to the relevant Controller application server as an administrator
- Right-click on 'My Computer' and choose 'manage'
- Expand 'Services and Applications'
- Expand 'Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager'
- Expand 'Web Sites' - 'Default Web Site' - 'Cognos8'
- Right-click on virtual directory 'controller' and choose 'properties'
- Inside the box 'Execute permissions' change the value to 'Scripts only'
- Click OK
Scenario #2
See separate IBM Technote #1506702.
Scenario #3
Convert Controller report server to use ISAPI (not CGI).
- See separate IBM Technote #1618592.
Related Information
[{"Product":{"code":"SS9S6B","label":"IBM Cognos Controller"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Component":"Controller","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"8.5.1;8.5;8.4;8.3","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB10","label":"Data and AI"}}]
Historical Number
1018379
Was this topic helpful?
Document Information
Modified date:
15 June 2018
UID
swg21345245