Unable to start host instance after modifying BTSNTSvc.exe.config file

Question

I posted a similar issue earlier, and decided to post another question now that I am using Windows Server 2012. Previous post: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/2438b688-cb01-4662-b894-bc2027d62027/error-using-modified-btsntsvcexeconfig-file?forum=biztalkgeneral

Now that I am using a supported OS for BizTalk Server 2013, I am unable to start host instances after modifying the BTSNTSvc.exe.config file.  The config file content (cleansed of sensitive data) is as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<configuration>
  <startup useLegacyV2RuntimeActivationPolicy="true">
    <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" />
    <supportedRuntime version="2.0.50727" />
  </startup>

  <runtime>
    <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
      <probing privatePath="BizTalk Assemblies;Developer Tools;Tracking;Tracking\interop" />
    </assemblyBinding>
  </runtime>

  <configSections>
    <section name="xlangs" type="Microsoft.XLANGs.BizTalk.CrossProcess.XmlSerializationConfigurationSectionHandler, Microsoft.XLANGs.BizTalk.CrossProcess" />
  </configSections>

  <xlangs>
    <Configuration>
      <AppDomains AssembliesPerDomain="10">
        <DefaultSpec SecondsIdleBeforeShutdown="1200" SecondsEmptyBeforeShutdown="1800"/>
        <AppDomainSpecs>
          <AppDomainSpec Name="MyAppDomain" SecondsIdleBeforeShutdown="-1" SecondsEmptyBeforeShutdown="12000"/>
        </AppDomainSpecs>
        <ExactAssignmentRules>
          <ExactAssignmentRule AssemblyName="MyQualifiedAssemblyName1" AppDomainName="MyAppDomain" />
          <ExactAssignmentRule AssemblyName="MyQualifiedAssemblyName2" AppDomainName="MyAppDomain"/>
        </ExactAssignmentRules>
      </AppDomains>
    </Configuration>
  </xlangs>

  <system.runtime.remoting>

    <channelSinkProviders>
      <serverProviders>
        <provider id="sspi" type="Microsoft.BizTalk.XLANGs.BTXEngine.SecurityServerChannelSinkProvider,Microsoft.XLANGs.BizTalk.Engine" securityPackage="ntlm" authenticationLevel="packetPrivacy" />
      </serverProviders>
    </channelSinkProviders>

    <application>
      <channels>
        <channel ref="tcp" port="0" name="">
          <serverProviders>
            <provider ref="sspi" />
            <formatter ref="binary" typeFilterLevel="Full"/>
          </serverProviders>
        </channel>
      </channels>
    </application>
  </system.runtime.remoting>

</configuration>

Notice the only section that has been added is the "xlangs" and the runtime section also allows loading .Net 2.0 and .Net 3.5.

I am getting the following popup and error in the event log after attempting to start the host instance.

*** POPUP FROM BTS Admin Console ***
TITLE: BizTalk Server Administration
------------------------------

Starting instance of host BtsHost on server MyComputer failed.

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=47400&ProdName=Microsoft+BizTalk+Server+2013&ProdVer=3.10.229.0&EvtSrc=Microsoft.BizTalk.Administration.SnapIn.Properties.Errors&EvtID=HostInstance_UnmapServerHostInstanceFailed

------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Failed to start the BizTalk Host instance. Check the event log on the server "MyComputer" for more details.

Internal error: "Unspecified error" (WinMgmt)

------------------------------
BUTTONS:

OK
------------------------------

*** EVENT LOG ***
Log Name:      Application
Source:        BizTalk Server
Date:          2/23/2014 11:27:20 AM
Event ID:      5410
Task Category: BizTalk Server
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      MyComputer
Description:
A failure occurred when executing a Windows service request.
 
 Service request: Start
 
 BizTalk host name: BtsHost
 Windows service name: BTSSvc$BtsHost
 
 Additional error information:
 Error code: 0x80131604
 Error source: mscorlib
 Error description: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="BizTalk Server" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="16576">5410</EventID>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>1</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-02-23T19:27:20.000000000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>2940</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>MyComputer</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>A failure occurred when executing a Windows service request.
 
 Service request: Start
 
 BizTalk host name: BtsHost
 Windows service name: BTSSvc$BtsHost
 
 Additional error information:
 Error code: 0x80131604
 Error source: mscorlib
 Error description: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. </Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Has anyone experienced this error?  Were you able to resolve it?  If so, how?

Thank you

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David Downing... If this answers your question, please Mark as the Answer. If this post is helpful, please vote as helpful.

Answer 1

In a document (albeit for v2006) I found the following statement in reference to where the XLANG element should be posiitoned. [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff647898.aspx - point 3]

"Add the following section to the end of the BTSNTSvc.exe.config file, immediately above the closing </configuration> element."

Secondly I've only been able to find bits and pieces pertaining to usage of this element.

Maybe a support call with Microsoft would help?

Regards.

Answer 2

Thank you Shankycheil.

The only config sections that I can get working are <connectionStrings> and <appSettings> which are pretty standard.  Because we use the Enterprise Libraries, there are many additional sections needed, so we need to take advantage of the <configSections> to extend the config file.

FYI, the <xlangs> section above is used to control how long an application domain is kept loaded before unloading it.  We use it to keep our real time components alive so they don't time out.

I believe a support call will probably be needed.  I thought I had this working on Windows Server 2012 prior to upgrading to Windows Server 2012 R2, but that may not be the case.

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David Downing... If this answers your question, please Mark as the Answer. If this post is helpful, please vote as helpful.

Answer 3

Windows Server 2012 R2? Maybe that is where the problem is.. I have not encoutered any documentation from Microsoft pertaining to BizTalk 2013 support on Windows 2012 R2. Even the CU listed at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2555976/en-us do not mention anything in this regards.

All I've found is a promise @http://blogs.msdn.com/b/biztalknotes/archive/2013/10/29/biztalk-2013-compatibility-with-latest-platforms-of-microsoft.aspx which is about 3 months old.

Regards.

Answer 4

Thank you, however this post is regarding Windows Server 2012... my previous post was relating to Windows Server 2012 R2.

Snippet from your article link:

As we already know that BizTalk 2013 traditionally supports Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012

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David Downing... If this answers your question, please Mark as the Answer. If this post is helpful, please vote as helpful.

Answer 5

I opened a support case with Microsoft and the resolution was to move the <configSections> to the top of the configuration file.

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David Downing... If this answers your question, please Mark as the Answer. If this post is helpful, please vote as helpful.