Server for NIS Cannot Process Commas in User's Display Name (298831)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
This article was previously published under Q298831

SYMPTOMS

With Windows 2000, new users are added by using the Active Directory Users and Computers tool. The display name field for a user is normally formatted as "FirstName LastName". However, depending on what other software you have installed, the display names may be formatted as "LastName, Firstname" . Note that Microsoft Exchange is an example of a program that may format the displays differently.

If the DC also has the SFU Server for NIS component installed, a UNIX Attributes tab for each user is visible in Active Directory Users and Computers. You use the UNIX Attributes tab to set UNIX attributes like NIS domain, UID, GID, and other settings. If you select the UNIX Attributes tab while you are modifying a user's attributes, and the user has a comma in their display name, when you try to close the UNIX Attributes properties, you receive the following error message:
Title = UNIX Attributes
Msg = Duplicate UID.
Assign a unique UID.

CAUSE

This problem can occur because the SFU code that process the UNIX Attributes properties uses a comma as a delimiter.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:
   Date        Time     Version        Size       File name     Platform
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   05/16/2001  03:45p   5.2000.328.18  1,603,584  Nis2ad.exe    Intel
   05/16/2001  03:45p   5.2000.328.18  1,455,104  Nisadmin.exe  Intel
   05/16/2001  03:45p   5.2000.328.18  1,644,544  Nisctrl.dll   Intel
   05/16/2001  03:45p   5.2000.328.18  1,603,584  Nismap.exe    Intel
   05/16/2001  05:24p   5.2000.328.18     81,920  Nisprop.dll   Intel
   05/16/2001  03:20p   5.2000.328.18    129,536  Nissvc.exe    Intel

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do not use a comma in display names.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/26/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbenv kbprb kbQFE kbui KB298831
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