Power Monitoring Expert 8.x or 9.x - Why does a distributed install fail if the database destination path on the database server does not exist on the application server?

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Issue
When installing PME in a distributed system, you are asked to specify a location for the database files on the database server. If the drive letter specified as the root of the path for the database location does not exist on the application server, then the PME install will fail.

For example, the database server has a C: and an E: drive, and you specify a path for the databases as E:\PME_Databases. If the application server only has a C:\ drive, the PME installer will tell you that you have specified an invalid drive and will not proceed.

Product Line
Power Monitoring Expert 8.2
Power Monitoring Expert 9.0

Environment
Distributed PME install.

Cause
The PME installer checks the drive letter for the path entered for the databases as if it is a drive on the application server. If the driver letter is not a valid drive on the application server, the installer will not proceed. This can occur if the drive does not exist at all on the application server, or if the drive letter is mapped to a CDROM. In either case, the installer will not proceed.

Resolution
There are a couple of workarounds:

1. Choose a database location on C: drive, even if that is not where you want the databases to reside on the database server. Once PME is installed, the database files can be detached and moved to the desired location.
2. If workaround # 1 is not possible, you will need to map a drive on the application server that uses the same drive letter as the one used on the database.