Installation issues with the SQL Server Express database
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Installation issues with the SQL Server Express database

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Article ID: 203775

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Updated On:

Products

Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

The Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM) installation or migration to the built-in SQL Server Express database has failed or encountered an error that you need to troubleshoot.

Starting with 14.3 RU1, the default database used in a SEPM installation is SQL Server Express instead of an Sybase embedded database.

Common error messages:

The SQL Server Express database installation failed. Unknown SQL Server Express installation error!
 
SQLExpressDbHelper>>installSQLExpress>> Error: SQLExpress MSI or configuration.ini does not exist!
SQLExpressDbHelper>>installSQLExpress>> Insatllation succeeded: false, More SQLExpress installation logs can be found from: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Setup Bootstrap\Log
SQLExpressDbHelper>>uninstallSQLExpressByCommands, deleteAfterUninstall: true
SQLExpressDbHelper>>uninstallSQLExpressByCommands, done! Cost(seconds)0
installSQLExpressEx -> InterruptedException, Unknown SQL Server Express installation error!

 

Environment

Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager14.3 RU1 and later.

SQL Server Express version.

  • SQL Server Express 2014 is installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 with SEPM 14.3 RU1 - 14.3 RU10.
  • SQL Server Express 2017 is used for all other OS with SEPM 14.3 RU1 - 14.3 RU10.
  • SQL Server Express 2022 is used in SEPM 14.4 and later.

Cause

Multiple causes.

Resolution

Locating SEPM installation logs

Review the following logs to investigate why the SEPM's Default SQL Server Express database did not install correctly.

If the issue is encountered during the Management Server Configuration Wizard portion of the install, review the following logs.

  • SEPM installation - <install drive>:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager\tomcat\logs\ConfigurationWizard-0.log
  • SEPM upgrade - <install drive>:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager\tomcat\logs\Upgrade-0.log

If the issue is encountered during the Default SQL Server Server Express installation: first check for and uninstall any existing SQL Server 2012 Native Client. If a newer client is already installed, SQL Express will throw the "Unknown SQL Server Express installation error" when it tries to install an older version of the client and it is not at all obvious from the logging that this is the cause. Otherwise check for the presence of the following file(s).

  • SQL 2017 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Setup Bootstrap\Log\Summary.txt.
  • SQL 2014 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\120\Setup Bootstrap\Log\Summary.txt.
  • If the file is found in neither location, check the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\###\Setup Bootstrap\logs\ folder for a file named Details.txt.
  • If none of the above are found, look directly for the SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.html file below.

To review the Summary.txt, open it and scroll to the bottom of the file.  There should be a line similar to

Rules report file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\<version>\Setup Bootstrap\Log\<date>_<time>\SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.html

Open the SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.html and review for exceptions and error messages. Follow recommendations within the SQL Server Express logs to resolve any installation issues.

Solutions

SQL Express MSI missing

If the following error is encountered

SEVERE: SQLExpressDbHelper>>installSQLExpress>> Error: SQLExpress MSI or configuration.ini does not exist!

Typically this occurs when trying to add a SEPM replication partner.  The error is presented because the SQL Express MSI installation file needed has been deleted upon installation.  A repair can be ran on the SEPM which produced this error to add the SQL Express MSI file back.  Then retry the steps to add the replication partner.

For all other errors

Follow recommendations within the SQL Server Express logs to resolve any installation issues.

After Remediation

After remediation steps have been taken, run one of the following.

  • If installing the SEPM, run sca.bat found C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager\bin\sca.bat
  • If upgrading the SEPM, run upgrade.bat found C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager\bin\upgrade.bat
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