Consistent Error Message when InfoPath Form 2007 (Browser) Submitted to SharePoint Library

Question

All -
I have had an issue with forms submitted outside, and in some cases inside, an organizational firewall.  The use is as follows:
1.  an external (public) IP address is used to link external users to a form behind the FW.
2. The form renders in the browser outside the FW.
3. Users complete all required fields and attach files (but not in all cases).
4. Users click the submit option (submit is configured to save the xml file to the SharePoint library)
5. It works sometime and others it doesn't.  In the event it doesn't, it returns my custom error in the form.  In the event it works, it submit my custom successful message.

Problem:
1. success is spiratic at best.
2. After turning up diagnostic logging for the Form Services Data Connection the logs return details including the following error:

http://External_IP_ADDRESS/_layouts/Postback.FormServer.aspx, Form ID: urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:infopath:SharePoint-Library-For-Form:-myXSD-2009-08-15T09-32-45, Type: DataAdapterException, Exception Message: The form cannot be submitted to the following location: http://External_IP_Address/SharePointFormLibrary/filename.xml. There is a problem with the Web server. Make sure the Web server exists, try again later or contact the Web server administrator. Access denied.)    b8b46b25-b1f2-467d-80a5-8ad42f8cc379

Configuration Verification:
1. AAM configured for, both, external and internal hostname.  NOTE: the external name is actually an IP Address.  We are not using a hostname externally.  Of course, I make the recommendations and it is up to the biz.
2.  The website (IIS terminology) is configured with the default zones host name
3.  FW is mapping the external IP to the internal IP for the appropriate web app (SharePoint terminology).  Also, mapping is actually working.  I think Postback.FormServer.aspx doesn't like the external IP being submitted to SharePoint.  Keep in mind the same error exists internally.

Thoughts:
1.  I think it is a DNS issue.  That is one part
2.  I think Forms Server doesn't trust or like the external ip address used as a part of the post back.  I can only think about configuring a Link Translation on the FW.

Any advice is welcomed.  I would like to fix that asap.  I did do extensive research before submitting this question.

Thanks in advance.

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MCT

Answer 1

Hi Corroll,

 

The corresponding ULS log entry for this error should look like:

Form submission failed. (User:<UserName>, Form Name: <FormName>, IP: , Request: http://External_IP_ADDRESS/_layouts/Postback.FormServer.aspx, Form ID: urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:infopath:SharePoint-Library-For-Form:-myXSD-2009-08-15T09-32-45, Type: DataAdapterException, Exception Message: The form cannot be submitted to the following location: http://External_IP_Address/SharePointFormLibrary/filename.xml. There is a problem with the Web server. Make sure the Web server exists, try again later or contact the Web server administrator. Access denied.)    b8b46b25-b1f2-467d-80a5-8ad42f8cc379

 

Current user who submitted the form should be logged (see the bold font above).

 

A possible cause of the issue is that the user is anonymous (the highlighting part is Blank).

If so, please disable the anonymous access from the SharePoint site and the corresponding IIS site to resolve the issue.

 

If this is not the cause of the issue, please capture a network monitor trace to me for further research.

 

Here is the steps to capture a network trace log for your reference:

1.    Download Microsoft Network Monitor 3.3 if you don’t have Network Monitor tool installed.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=983B941D-06CB-4658-B7F6-3088333D062F&displaylang=en

2.    Install the Microsoft Network Monitor 3.3 on the machine which you would submit the form.

3.    Launch the Network Monitor.

4.    Create a New Capture in the toolbar.

5.    Click Start to capture the network traffic.

6.    Reproduce the issue.

7.    Click Stop to stop capturing the network traffic.

8.    Click Save as button to Save the network trace log as a cap file.

9.    Send the cap file to the workspace

Workspace URL: (https://sftus.one.microsoft.com/ChooseTransfer.aspx?key=0ca0d005-d8bf-4f48-8f7c-635574544ac3)

Workspace Password: SLUe4#d)Z+0EM

 

Let me know the result if possible.

-lambert

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Sincerely,

Lambert Qin | Microsoft TechNet Managed Forum Support

Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Answer 2

I have the same issue.

This works with authenticated users, but not for anonymous users.