Package Server agent fails to start with error

Products

• Management Platform (Formerly known as Notification Server)

Issue/Introduction

The Package Server agent fails to start and as such cannot synchronize with the NS to make packages available for the site it serves. The following entries are found on the log files when the Altiris Agent starts:

<event date='Sep 26 15:37:19' severity='4' hostName='PackageServerXYZ' source='Agent' module='AeXNSAgent.exe' process='AeXNSAgent.exe' pid='5228' thread='5312' tickCount='497429609' >
  <![CDATA[Loading client object: Altiris.AeXNSCPkgSvr]]>
</event>
<event date='Sep 26 15:37:19' severity='4' hostName='PackageServerXYZ' source='Agent' module='AeXNSAgent.exe' process='AeXNSAgent.exe' pid='5228' thread='5312' tickCount='497429812' >
  <![CDATA[Starting client object: Altiris.AeXNSCPkgSvr]]>
</event>
<event date='Sep 26 15:37:19' severity='4' hostName='PackageServerXYZ' source='Package Server Agent' module='AeXNSCPackageServer.dll' process='AeXNSAgent.exe' pid='5228' thread='5312' tickCount='497429828' >
  <![CDATA[Creating base virtual directory /lm/w3svc/1/root/Altiris.]]>
</event>
<event date='Sep 26 15:37:19' severity='1' hostName='PackageServerXYZ' source='Package Server Agent' module='AeXNSCPackageServer.dll' process='AeXNSAgent.exe' pid='5228' thread='5312' tickCount='497429890' >
  <![CDATA[CAeXNSCPkgSvr::Start failed. IMSAdminBase->OpenKey failed. Meta Path /lm/w3svc/1/root/. The system cannot find the path specified..]]>
</event>
<event date='Sep 26 15:37:19' severity='1' hostName='PackageServerXYZ' source='Agent' module='AeXNSAgent.exe' process='AeXNSAgent.exe' pid='5228' thread='5312' tickCount='497429890' >
  <![CDATA[Failed to start object Altiris.AeXNSCPkgSvr: The system cannot find the path specified. (-2147024893)]]>
</event>

Cause

When the Package Server is started by the Altiris agent, it finds that the system is running IIS and tries to configure it (creating a Web folder) to distribute packages and package snapshots via HTTP.

However, in this case the call to the IIS Admin Object Base (IMAdminBase) OpenKey interface fails because the path "/lm/w3svc/1/root/" cannot be found.

Resolution

The best option is not to install the Package Server on a system running SharePoint Portal.

We are currently researching if the problem found was caused by incompatibility with the SharePoint system or if the problem was caused by the removal of the Default Web Site.

Applies To

Notification Server 6.0.6074 (SP3) with R1 (AKB 22690, TECH13936) is installed.
Altiris Agent version 6.0.2348
Package Server Agent 6.0.1481

IIS is running with SharePoint Portal, the default Web site was removed or renamed.