This error is due to a known limitation of Apache CouchDB. Fixing the issue requires either:
- To enable Windows short filename creation, also known as 'NTFS 8.3 file names'.
- Or to reinstall CouchDB using a path not containing any spaces.
First, we will test if the NTFS 8.3 name option is disabled. If the option is disabled we will then try to enable it.
When allowing short filename creation is not possible, we will reinstall the CouchDB application.
Symptoms
- Error 503 view.custom.state.error.message
-
Error From Database
How to Solve the Issue
Checking the value of the Windows short file name creation option
- Open a command prompt with administrator privileges.
- Execute the command that checks 8dot3 name creation for drive C:
- FSUTIL.EXE 8dot3name Query c:
- If the registry state value of NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation is 1, it means Windows short file name creation is disabled on all volumes:
When enabling Windows short file name creation is OK
For better server performance, it is recommended to disable short file name creation as explained in this Microsoft TechNet.
Depending on your Windows Server administration best practices, it is not always possible to update this option. A workaround is provided later on in this article when enabling short file name creation is not acceptable.
Please follow these steps:
- Uninstall GSX Gizmo.
- Stop Apache CouchDB Windows Service from services.msc.
- Uninstall Apache CouchDB.
- Delete the remaining Apache CouchDB folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Apache Software Foundation.
- Enable short file name creation by following these steps:
- Open a command prompt with Administrator privileges.
- Execute the command fsutil.exe behavior set disable8dot3 2
When enabling Windows short file name creation is not possible
To fix the issue, we have to uninstall Apache CouchDB and reinstall using a folder path without spaces.
By default CouchDB is installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Apache Software Foundation. We will have to reinstall using C:/CouchDB or D:/DB/CouchDB for example.
- Stop GSX Gizmo Service Windows Service from services.msc.
- Stop Apache CouchDB Windows Service from services.msc.
- Uninstall Apache CouchDB.
- Delete the remaining Apache CouchDB folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Apache Software Foundation.
- Install CouchDB in a folder path without spaces.
- Using a web browser, navigate to http://localhost:5984/_utils/
- Create a database named gizmo.
- Click Configuration on the right side of the page.
- Navigate to the httpd section.
- Double-click bind_address value.
- Change bind_address value from 127.0.0.1 to 0.0.0.0.
- Stop Apache CouchDB Windows Service.
- Start Apache CouchDB Windows Service.
- Start GSX Gizmo Service Windows Service.
Related links
Server 2012: Best Practice – Disable short file name creation.