Troubleshoot common Perforce Issues

In this article, we will explain how to solve most common issues by using perforce repository with Assembla tool.

1. I am getting the error "Partner exited Unexpectedly". What should I do?

You need to set up p4 correctly. Please follow these instructions:

1.1 Once you have installed p4 in your computer you'll need to make sure that you are able to connect:

1. Run 'p4 info' to make sure you can connect
2. Login with 'p4 login' using your Assembla password
3. Create a client for the main stream by running 'p4 client -S //depot/main -o | p4 client -i'

1.2 After doing this, you'll need to set environment variables:

a) Windows:

p4 set P4CONFIG=p4config.txt
cd <workspace directory>
echo P4PORT=perforce.assembla.com:1666 >> p4config.txt
echo P4HOST=assembla_p4host >> p4config.txt
echo P4USER=assembla_username >> p4config.txt
To launch P4V:
p4v

b) Linux:

echo "export P4CONFIG=p4config.txt" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
cd <workspace directory>
echo "P4PORT=perforce.assembla.com:1666" >> p4config.txt
echo P4HOST=assembla_p4host >> p4config.txt
echo P4USER=assembla_username >> p4config.txt
To launch P4V:
p4v

c) Mac OS X:

echo "export P4CONFIG=p4config.txt" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
cd <workspace directory>
echo "P4PORT=perforce.assembla.com:1666" >> p4config.txt
echo P4HOST=assembla_p4host >> p4config.txt
echo P4USER=assembla_username >> p4config.txt
To launch P4V:
open /Applications/p4v.app

1.3 If you still are getting this error please try to set the p4config.txt file directly from the workspace path. Like this:

Windows: $ p4 set P4CONFIG="C:\workspace_directory\p4config.txt"
Mac & Linux: $ sudo p4 set "P4CONFIG=/workspace_directory/p4config.txt" >> ~/.bashrc

Note 1: When you install your p4 it asks you to select a path for your workspace. Make sure to use the same workspace directory while setting the variables.

Note 2: The P4HOST info can be found at the "Instructions" tab on your Perforce repository in Assembla

Note 3: You might noticed that the echo P4CLIENT=<workspace name> >> p4config.txt line is not included in this guide anymore. This is because it was causing some issues like Partner exited Unexpectedly

2. What does this error "error: Submit aborted -- fix problems then use 'p4 submit -c 1543' ...." mean?

It means you have bumped into your perforce license limit. If you want to remove some of them you need to do the following:

a) Check the list of all active clients using 'p4 clients'
b) Kill unwanted users with 'p4 client -d client_name'

3. What should I do if I get this error: "Unable to connect to the server perforce.assembla.com:1666 as user [*]"?

Please do the following:

Windows: set P4HOST=workspace_name && “C:\Program Files\Perforce\p4v”

Mac & Linux: export P4HOST=workspace_name && /Applications/P4/p4v.app/Contents/MacOS/p4v

By doing this you will start p4v from the same console in which you exported P4HOST var before.

4. What should I do if I have everything configured correctly and still doesn't work?

In that case please contact support here support@assembla.com and mention that you have followed up all our instructions here and you are still unable to access to perforce

 5. How to fix "when I run the command "p4 info" the line about client name says it's illegal"?

Console Perforce client will set client name to P4HOST value, if P4CLIENT is not present.
Since Perforce host names in Assembla may contain slashes, it will blame client name as illegal, but nothing prevents you from setting another client name. You can set it by using P4CLIENT env variable, or by providing -c option to console client.

6. I am getting very slow connection speed when trying to upload to a perforce depot on my space

 You may want to try to disable TCP window auto-tuning, and see if it helps. You can do this with:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

And to bring it back:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal

There are some other tweaks, to solve flaky connection issues on Windows.
You can refer to this guide:
http://www.speedguide.net/articles/windows-7-vista-2008-tweaks-2574

You can also try to switch to plain TCP connection, updating your P4HOST to perforce.assembla.com:1666

Have questions? Email us support@assembla.com