Timeout waiting for external console - transfer large file

I have read the article about
"Timeout waiting for external console to complete the command." in the common errors section.
But I am not sure that this applies for what I have envountered here:

Environment:
WinSCP Version 4.2.7 (Build 758) (OS 5.2.3790 Service Pack 2)

Situation: synch directory from a remote SFTP Server to a local directory.
The remote directory contains a very large file (~200MB)
This fails with the above error message mentioned.

Any ideas why this is happening?

this is the procedure:
I run a windows batch file interactively which:
- creates the WinSCP script
- runs WinSCP with the batch file as parameter.


This is the WinSCP script:
option batch abort
option confirm off
open xxxfru
ascii
#
# monthly files
#
lcd C:\Inetpub\ftproot\XXXFru\
cd /DMS/Outbound/FRU/
synchronize local -criteria=time
#
# full files
#
lcd C:\Inetpub\ftproot\XXXFru\FRUFULL
cd /DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL
synchronize local -criteria=time
exit

This shows on the Windows command window when running the batch file:

Active session: [1] XXXFRU
transfer ascii
C:\Inetpub\ftproot\XXXFru
/DMS/Outbound/FRU
Comparing...
Local 'C:\Inetpub\ftproot\XXXFru\FRUFULL' <= Remote '/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL'
Synchronizing...
Local 'C:\Inetpub\ftproot\XXXFru\FRUFULL' <= Remote '/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL'
ofraw03.txt | 15675 KiB | 80.9 KiB/s | ascii | 7%
Copying files from remote side failed.

Copying files from remote side failed.
Timeout waiting for external console to complete the command.
XXX FRU files Download failed

----

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "run a windows batch file interactively " ... Can you explain?

Also please post a full log file showing the problem.

martin wrote:

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "run a windows batch file interactively " ... Can you explain?

Also please post a full log file showing the problem.

To generate log file, enable logging, log in to your server and do the operation and only the operation that causes the error. For posting extensive logs you may use pastebin or similar application. Note that passwords and passphrases not stored in the log. You may want to remove other data you consider sensitive though, such as host names, IP addresses, account names or file names (unless they are relevant to the problem). If you do not want to post the log publicly, you may email it to me. You will find my address (if you log in) in my forum profile. Please include link back to this topic in your email. Also note in this topic that you have emailed the log.

Thanks for your reply.
- running a windows batch file interactively:
with that I mean running the batch file from a command prompt rather than through the scheduler in the background.

- log file: This is the relevant section, If you need to see the full log I would send it to your email address. Thanks!

. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.156 Startup conversation with host finished.
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.171 Cached directory change via "/DMS/Outbound/FRU/" to "/DMS/Outbound/FRU".
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.171 Getting current directory name.
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.171 Collecting synchronization list for local directory 'C:\Inetpub\ftproot\BMWFru' and remote directory '/DMS/Outbound/FRU', mode = 1, params = 2
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.171 Listing directory "/DMS/Outbound/FRU".
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.171 Type: SSH_FXP_OPENDIR, Size: 26, Number: 779
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.218 Type: SSH_FXP_HANDLE, Size: 13, Number: 779
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.218 Type: SSH_FXP_READDIR, Size: 13, Number: 1036
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.265 Type: SSH_FXP_NAME, Size: 541, Number: 1036
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.265 Type: SSH_FXP_READDIR, Size: 13, Number: 1292
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.312 Type: SSH_FXP_STATUS, Size: 44, Number: 1292
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.312 Status code: 1
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.312 Type: SSH_FXP_CLOSE, Size: 13, Number: 1540
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.328 Collecting synchronization list for local directory 'C:\Inetpub\ftproot\BMWFru\FRUFULL' and remote directory '/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL', mode = 1, params = 2
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.328 Listing directory "/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL".
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.328 Type: SSH_FXP_OPENDIR, Size: 34, Number: 1803
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.359 Type: SSH_FXP_STATUS, Size: 34, Number: 1540
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.359 Discarding reserved response
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.421 Type: SSH_FXP_HANDLE, Size: 13, Number: 1803
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.421 Type: SSH_FXP_READDIR, Size: 13, Number: 2060
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.468 Type: SSH_FXP_NAME, Size: 489, Number: 2060
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.468 Type: SSH_FXP_READDIR, Size: 13, Number: 2316
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.515 Type: SSH_FXP_STATUS, Size: 44, Number: 2316
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.515 Status code: 1
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.515 Type: SSH_FXP_CLOSE, Size: 13, Number: 2564
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.515 Synchronizing local directory 'C:\Inetpub\ftproot\BMWFru\' with remote directory '/DMS/Outbound/FRU/', params = 2
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.515 Synchronizing local directory 'C:\Inetpub\ftproot\BMWFru\FRUFULL\' with remote directory '/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL/', params = 2
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.515 File: "/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL/ofraw03.txt"
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.531 Copying "/DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL/ofraw03.txt" to local directory started.
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.531 Ascii transfer mode selected.
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.531 Opening remote file.
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.531 Type: SSH_FXP_OPEN, Size: 55, Number: 2819
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.562 Type: SSH_FXP_STATUS, Size: 34, Number: 2564
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.562 Discarding reserved response
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.625 Type: SSH_FXP_HANDLE, Size: 13, Number: 2819
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.625 Type: SSH_FXP_FSTAT, Size: 17, Number: 3080
> 2010-09-17 11:37:20.625 Type: SSH_FXP_READ, Size: 25, Number: 3333
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.671 3 skipped SSH_FXP_WRITE, SSH_FXP_READ, SSH_FXP_DATA and SSH_FXP_STATUS packets.
< 2010-09-17 11:37:20.671 Type: SSH_FXP_ATTRS, Size: 58, Number: 3080
. 2010-09-17 11:37:20.671 Storing reserved response
. 2010-09-17 11:41:06.062 1986 skipped SSH_FXP_WRITE, SSH_FXP_READ, SSH_FXP_DATA and SSH_FXP_STATUS packets.
> 2010-09-17 11:41:06.062 Type: SSH_FXP_CLOSE, Size: 13, Number: 258052
* 2010-09-17 11:41:11.062 (ECommand) Copying files from remote side failed.
* 2010-09-17 11:41:11.062 Timeout waiting for external console to complete the command.
. 2010-09-17 11:41:11.281 Closing connection.
. 2010-09-17 11:41:11.281 Sending special code: 12
. 2010-09-17 11:41:11.281 Sent EOF message

OK, how do you run WinSCP from scheduler?

The failed file transfer I have reported was run from the command prompt.
(running the windows batch file)

In production the scheduler runs the same windows batch file, and uses the Administrator account to start it, and runs it in a local directory.

here is the batch file in full:

rem
rem
rem ! we now run winscp to xxxFRU files
rem !
@Echo Off
>>xxxFRU_Logfile.txt 2>&1 now "Start xxx_get_fru"
if exist xxx_get_fru.txt del xxx_get_fru.txt
if exist c:\inetpub\ftproot\xxxfru\xfer_complete\complete.txt ^
del c:\inetpub\ftproot\xxxfru\xfer_complete\complete.txt
rem
rem create winscp script file
rem
echo option batch abort >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo option confirm off >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo open xxx/xxxfru >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo ascii >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo # >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo # monthly files >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo # >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo lcd C:\Inetpub\ftproot\xxxFru\ >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo cd /DMS/Outbound/FRU/ >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo synchronize local -criteria=time >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo # >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo # full files >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo # >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo lcd C:\Inetpub\ftproot\xxxFru\FRUFULL >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo cd /DMS/Outbound/FRU/FRUFULL >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo synchronize local -criteria=time >> xxx_get_fru.txt
echo exit >> xxx_get_fru.txt
>>xxxFRU_Logfile.txt 2>&1 now "Run WinSCP xxxFRU "
winscp.com /script=xxx_get_fru.txt
rem !
if errorlevel 1 goto error1
rem
echo xxx FRU files download succeeded
>>xxxFRU_Logfile.txt 2>&1 now "End WinSCP xxxFRU success"
copy c:\ppk\complete.txt c:\inetpub\ftproot\xxxfru\xfer_complete
rem sender receiver subject message attachment
cscript sendmail.vbs "thomas.dreher@pentanasolutions.com" "thomas.dreher@pentanasolutions.com" "xxxFRU success" "please check logfile" "c:\ppk\xxxFRU_Logfile.txt"
goto exit1:
:error1
echo xxx FRU files Download failed
>>xxxFRU_Logfile.txt 2>&1 now "End WinSCP xxxBRU failed"
cscript sendmail.vbs "thomas.dreher@pentanasolutions.com" "thomas.dreher@pentanasolutions.com" "xxxFRU ERROR" "please chk logfile" "c:\ppk\xxxFRU_Logfile.txt"
:exit1
rem ! exit