Error: "Cannot create semaphore lock" When Refreshing Extract using tableau refreshextract

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Error: "Cannot create semaphore lock" When Refreshing Extract using tableau refreshextract

Published: 05 Dec 2016
Last Modified Date: 08 Jul 2022

Issue

When you try to run the tableau refreshextract command via the Tableau Server bin folder, the command fails with an error:

FlexNet Licensing version <Version>
cannot create semaphore lock (Global\LM_tableau_SEMAPHORE): <number>
EXITING DUE TO SIGNAL 32 Exit reason 9

Environment

Tableau Server

Resolution

Option 1: Run the command from the Tableau Desktop bin folder

Navigate to C:\Program Files\Tableau\Tableau <version>\bin and then run the tableau refreshextract or tableau addfiletoextract commands.

Option 2: Use the tabcmd refreshextracts command

Run the tabcmd refreshextracts command from the Tableau Server bin folder. For more information, see refreshextracts workbook-name or datasource-name in Tableau Help.

Cause

Tableau Data Command-Line Utility commands must be run from the Tableau Desktop bin directory. The command is being run from the Tableau Server bin directory.