Cumulus Support

First of all I LOVE this product... I have been using it avidly for at least 2 years... Recently I started to see the Console just hang "Not Responding".... So I began troubelshooting. After installing 191, 192B etc... and testing them, as well as the 1.8X... It seemed to happen after a few minutes regardless of the Cumulus version. This led me to the OS as the issue, thus I began killing processes to see if I could free Cumulus while frozen...

I found "searchprotocolhost.exe" to be the culprit... This is part of the Windows Search feature... I am actively trying to figure out how to correct the issue without disabling Windows Search... (I like the feature from a file MGR perspective)...

I will write more when I figure out what to do... For now every few minutes Cumulus locks up, and I free it by killing the process "searchprotocolhost", but windows restarts the process immediately, thus Cumulus locks again... I may disable windows search.

I don't know why Windows Search should cause Cumulus to lock up. Perhaps it is somehow preventing Cumulus writing to the log - does the time of the freeze correspond to the time Cumulus would write to a log file?

What folder have you installed Cumulus in?

steve wrote:I don't know why Windows Search should cause Cumulus to lock up. Perhaps it is somehow preventing Cumulus writing to the log - does the time of the freeze correspond to the time Cumulus would write to a log file?

What folder have you installed Cumulus in?

I installed it in d:\Cumulus192B

After disabling the 'Windows Search' service the problem disappears. I also noticed that a company called "Spigot Inc" installed a spyware app called "searchsettings", but after cleaning that off completely and then rebooting, I tried re-enabling the Windows Search service and it froze up again after about 5 minutes. I then killed the process "searchprotocolhost.exe" and all was well immediately. I will keep looking to see if there is any other underlying reason this would be happening. But for now, I will only enable Windows Search when I need to use it

Cumulus is way to important to me. I am a Weather Spotter and need this data uploaded to the web, Cumulus is just PERFECT for this.

I really appreciate your hard work and continuous focus on the product.

Thanks a whole bunch!!

steve wrote:I don't know why Windows Search should cause Cumulus to lock up. Perhaps it is somehow preventing Cumulus writing to the log - does the time of the freeze correspond to the time Cumulus would write to a log file?

What folder have you installed Cumulus in?

Forgot to mention, not sure if the timing corresponds to a file write however, the last entry in the diag file is: 7/24/2011 16:35:01.063 : Writing today.ini, LastUpdateTime = 7/24/2011 4:35:00 PM raindaystart = 0 rain counter = 0.

I am using your restart feature, which from what I gather restarts Cumulus when it appears no data has been read (??). If I leave Cumulus running with "searchprotocolhost.exe" running it will restart Cumulus after a time out.

Thanks again Steve I will keep you posted on this. If there is anything you would like me to do, like turn on debug and recreate... let me know.

B/R David

Here is a debug log: I started "Debug", then waited a minute or two and restarted "Windows Search" service whichs spawns the "searchprotocolhost.exe" process. Notice at 1645 is locked stopped logging and then restarted at 16:50... Thanks Steve!

Cumulus debug log
0000.000 : **** Logging Disabled

0000.000 : **** Logging Disabled

1095.563 : **** Logging Enabled

1101.554 : 4:41:33 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
1102.256 : 4:41:33 PM FFFF020217036324A3
1105.329 : 4:41:37 PM FFFF03014303170665
1107.810 : 4:41:39 PM FFFF0000724202160034FE
1109.666 : 4:41:41 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
1114.128 : 4:41:45 PM FFFF022152032613AF
1121.834 : 4:41:53 PM FFFF0000602202160034CC
1128.573 : 7/24/2011 4:42:00 PM Minute timer 42
1128.573 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:42:00 PM raintot = 0
1131.803 : 4:42:03 PM Exit clicked
0000.000 : **** Logging Disabled

0043.774 : **** Logging Enabled

0045.724 : 7/24/2011 4:43:00 PM Minute timer 43
0045.724 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:43:00 PM raintot = 0
0049.015 : 4:43:03 PM FFFF0000524201180034DF
0049.483 : 4:43:04 PM FFFF022152032613AF
0052.728 : 4:43:07 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0062.977 : 4:43:17 PM FFFF00006162011800340E
0066.815 : 4:43:21 PM FFFF0E4450
0073.492 : 4:43:28 PM FFFF03014303170665
0076.971 : 4:43:31 PM FFFF00006462021400340E
0080.840 : 4:43:35 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0082.431 : 4:43:36 PM FFFF020217036224A2
0088.281 : 4:43:42 PM FFFF022152032613AF
0090.980 : 4:43:45 PM FFFF000059620214003403
0099.731 : 4:43:54 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0104.973 : 4:43:59 PM FFFF000066820214003430
0105.659 : 7/24/2011 4:44:00 PM Minute timer 44
0105.659 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:44:00 PM raintot = 0
0110.480 : 4:44:05 PM FFFF03014303170665
0118.826 : 4:44:13 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0123.412 : 4:44:17 PM FFFF020217036224A2
0126.797 : 4:44:21 PM FFFF0E4551
0127.281 : 4:44:21 PM FFFF022152032613AF
0132.975 : 4:44:27 PM FFFF0000594202140034E3
0146.719 : 4:44:41 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0147.156 : 4:44:41 PM FFFF00007462022400342E
0156.859 : 4:44:51 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0160.962 : 4:44:55 PM FFFF00006162022400341B
0164.425 : 4:44:58 PM FFFF020217036123A0
0165.985 : 7/24/2011 4:45:00 PM Minute timer 45
0165.985 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:45:00 PM raintot = 0
0466.209 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF022152032613AF
0466.209 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0000524202240034EC0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF03014303170665
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0E4652
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00009262022400344C
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00009282012400346B
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00008142012400341A
0466.224 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF03014203170664
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00009162022400344B
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF022150032613AD
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00008162022400343B
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF020217036224A2
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0E4753
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF03014203170664
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF000078820224003452
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF000087420224003421
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF022149032613A6
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00008262022400343C
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF020217036224A2
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF03014103170663
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00009162022400344B
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0E4854
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0600710233099121890906FD
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0000504202260034EC
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF02014903261386
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF020216036224A1
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF000067820126003442
0466.240 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF03014003170662
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0600720233099121890906FE
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF000057620126003412
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF02014903261386
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0E4955
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF020216036224A1
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0000562202260034D2
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0600720233099121890906FE
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0000454202200034DB
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF02014803261385
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0301390318065C
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF020216036224A1
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF00007582012000344A
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF060072023309912989090606
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0E505C
0466.256 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF000030020020003484
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF02014803261385
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0000536201140034FC
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0301390318065C
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF020216036224A1
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF0000674202140034F1
0466.271 : 4:50:00 PM FFFF060072023309912989090606
0467.192 : 7/24/2011 4:50:01 PM Minute timer 50
0467.192 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:50:01 PM raintot = 0
0469.001 : 4:50:03 PM FFFF0000654202140034EF
0475.725 : 4:50:10 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0478.268 : 4:50:12 PM FFFF02014903261386
0480.467 : 4:50:15 PM FFFF0301390318065C
0482.979 : 4:50:17 PM FFFF0000524201140034DB
0486.785 : 4:50:21 PM FFFF0E515D
0492.433 : 4:50:26 PM FFFF0202160361239F
0496.972 : 4:50:31 PM FFFF0000694202200034FF
0510.965 : 4:50:45 PM FFFF0000624202200034F8
0517.268 : 4:50:51 PM FFFF02014903261386
0517.674 : 4:50:52 PM FFFF0301390318065C
0522.728 : 4:50:57 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0524.974 : 4:50:59 PM FFFF000070820120003445
0526.207 : 7/24/2011 4:51:00 PM Minute timer 51
0526.207 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:51:00 PM raintot = 0
0533.430 : 4:51:07 PM FFFF020216036224A1
0536.830 : 4:51:11 PM FFFF060072023309912989090606
0538.999 : 4:51:13 PM FFFF0000752202200034EB
0546.783 : 4:51:21 PM FFFF0E525E
0552.977 : 4:51:27 PM FFFF00007682012000344B
0554.474 : 4:51:29 PM FFFF0301380318065B
0556.268 : 4:51:30 PM FFFF02014903271387
0566.970 : 4:51:41 PM FFFF0000684201200034FD
0569.731 : 4:51:44 PM FFFF01000050000000000000010199EA
0574.427 : 4:51:48 PM FFFF0202160361239F
0574.832 : 4:51:49 PM FFFF060072023309912989090606
0580.979 : 4:51:55 PM FFFF0000544202200034EA
0586.142 : 7/24/2011 4:52:00 PM Minute timer 52
0586.142 : Adding LH entry, ts = 4:52:00 PM raintot = 0

What logging interval have you set in Cumulus?

I have the Data Logging Interval set to 1 minute. Should I try a longer period of time?

I should have clarified my above post. With Windows Search running, it wrote to the log at 4:43, and 4:44 then Cumulus locked up at 4:45, I waited a few minutes and at 4:50 I then disabled Windows Search Service and logging started back up at 4:50, on 1 minute intervals. So I think it could be related to the Windows Indexing and Cumulus log writes.

I do not want you to think I am being stubborn, not in the least, this is a great product and I love it...

I wonder if the indexing is somehow stopping Cumulus writing to the log file. I suppose I could turn it on myself and see what happens, but I really hate it; it's the first thing I disable on a new install. Can you exclude the Cumulus folders from the indexing?

steve wrote:I wonder if the indexing is somehow stopping Cumulus writing to the log file. I suppose I could turn it on myself and see what happens, but I really hate it; it's the first thing I disable on a new install. Can you exclude the Cumulus folders from the indexing?

I am going to check to see if I can do that... Stay tuned! Thanks!

steve wrote:I wonder if the indexing is somehow stopping Cumulus writing to the log file. I suppose I could turn it on myself and see what happens, but I really hate it; it's the first thing I disable on a new install. Can you exclude the Cumulus folders from the indexing?

This works! I am using Windows Search again and Cumulus is working fine. Should anyone else experience this, here is what I did:

1) Ensure "Windows Search" service is running
2) Open start>control panel
3) In the search window type "Indexing Options"
4) Open Indexing Options
5) I have Cumulus installed in D:\Cumulus192B... Note where your Cumulus is installed and select that disk vilume (ie. Master C:)
6) Select the disk Volume where you installed Cumulus
7) Select/Click "Modify"
8) A new pop-up arrives... All the indexed volumes and data sets are shown with a "check" next to them.
9) Click the > (arrow) Next to the volume you have Cumulus installed on, this will expand that volume, you will see everything that is being indexed with a "checkmark"
10) Find your Cumulus install directory and "uncheck" it. This will exclude it from Windows Searchs and from the index.
11) Select "OK" and "Close" when finished.

I have validated this works on my system and that Cumulus continues writing log entries every minute with no interference from the Windows Indexing Search service.