OK, I got this right out of the Sniffer Knowledge Center:
Error "Failed to create empty document"
Error "Unable to connect to remote expert"
Starting a capture using DSPro 3.0 Agent
Connecting to a DSPro 3.0 Agent
Problem Environment:
Microsoft Windows NT
Microsoft Windows 98
DSS/RMON v3.0
Cause of this problem:
The above message will appear when the Console fails to start Expert for a capture session. This can be caused by a network misconfiguration at the Agent or Console, using different software versions, or multiple consoles.
Solution:
Verify the following:
1. The monitor card should not have TCP/IP bindings EXCEPT if using the Full Duplex Pod (see 3 below). Only the transport card should have TCP/IP bound to it. Disable the monitor card's TCP/IP binding using the Network utility in NT's Control Panel. Click on Bindings. Select to show bindings for all adapters. Expand the monitor adapter list. Disable TCP/IP and WINS (if listed) for the monitor adapter. Only Sniffer Driver should be bound. Click OK and reboot NT.
2. If NetBEUI was added as a protocol to the Agent make sure that it is not bound to both the transport and monitor cards. Unbind it from the monitor card. If NetBEUI is a protocol configured for the console which has multiple network interface cards, make sure it is only bound to one card.
3. When using a Full Duplex Pod: You will need to keep TCP/IP and the Sniffer Driver bound to the monitor card. In this case, make sure that IP forwarding is turned off, and that no other protocols are bound to the monitor card such as NetBEUI and WINS. Ensure that an ip gateway is not specified on the monitor card.
4. Do not run DSPro Console on the same machine as Sniffer Pro. If you are, uninstall both, then reinstall the DSPro Console.
5. Launching multiple Consoles and running capture on each simultaneously may cause the capture session to fail. "Failed to create empty document" will appear on the screen. Allow the first capture session to start completely before starting the second.
6. Ensure that DSPro v3.0.010 (build 10) is running on BOTH the Console and Agent.
7. On Win 95 or Win 98 DSPro Consoles, make sure it is set to a Domain, and not a Workgroup. This setting is under Control Panel/Networks.
8. Conflict with DataComm ConnectIT software on the agent. REMOTEagent.exe is running as a service process on the DSPro agent. Interoperability with ConnectIT software has not been fully tested or supported. Please check back here periodically for an update to this issue.
I hope this helps, good luck - and remember, you could upgrade to 4.1
- Andy