vCenter Server and the vSphere Web Client fail to start after upgrading the operating system to Windows Server 2012 R2

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

After upgrading the operating system where VMware componenets are installed, you experience these symptoms:

• You are unable to start the VMware VirtualCenter Server, VMware VirtualCenter Management Webservices, or VMware vSphere Web Client service
• Starting a service fails with the error:
  
  Error 1075: The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion
  
  
• The operating system was upgraded to Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 from Windows Server 2008 R2

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 5.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x

Cause

This issue occurs due to the change of services and service names in Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2.

In Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, the VMware VirtualCenter Server and VMware vSphere Web Client services are dependent on the Protected Storage service. In Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, the Protected Storage service is renamed to the Security Accounts Manager service. During the operating system upgrade, the VMware service dependencies are not updated with the new service names. This results in the VMware VirtualCenter Server service not being able to start as the Protected Storage service no longer exists.

Resolution

This is an expected behavior and a limitation of the operating system upgrade process. To resolve this issue, remove the VMware service dependency on the Protected Storage service.

To update VMware service dependencies:

VMware VirtualCenter Server service

Note: This procedure modifies the Windows registry. Before making any registry modifications, ensure that you have a current and valid backup of the registry and the virtual machine. For more information on backing up and restoring the registry, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 136393.

1. Log in to the machine running the VMware VirtualCenter Server service as an administrative user.
2. Right-click on the Start button and click Run.
3. Run this command to open the Registry Editor:
   
   regedit
   
   
4. Click OK.
5. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > vpxd.
6. Right-click on the DependOnService key and select Modify.
7. Removed this entry:
   
   ProtectedStorage
   
   
8. Click OK.
9. Start the VMware VirtualCenter Server service and VMware VirtualCenter Management Webservices service. For more information, see Stopping, starting, or restarting VMware vCenter Server services (1003895).

VMware vSphere Web Client Service

Note: This procedure modifies the Windows registry. Before making any registry modifications, ensure that you have a current and valid backup of the registry and the virtual machine. For more information on backing up and restoring the registry, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 136393.

1. Log in to the machine running the VMware vSphere Web Client service as an administrative user.
2. Right-click on the Start button and click Run.
3. Run this command to open the Registry Editor:
   
   regedit
   
   
4. Click OK.
5. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > vspherewebclientsvc.
6. Right-click on the ImagePath key and select Modify.
7. Remove the contents and replace with:
   
   "C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\vSphereWebClient\server\bin\service\bin\wrapper.exe" -s "C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\vSphereWebClient\server\bin\service\conf\wrapper.conf" set.default.SERVER_HOME=C:\PROGRA~1\VMware\INFRAS~1\VSPHER~1\server set.default.JMX_PORT=9875
   
   Note: The preceding values are for an installation using the default install paths and ports. If you have installed using a custom port or install location, update the appropriate values.
   
   
8. Click OK.
9. Start the VMware vSphere Web Client service. For more information, see Stopping, starting, or restarting VMware vCenter Server services (1003895).

Additional Information

The Protected Storage service manages the Local Security Authority Subsystem (lsass.exe) executable. In Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, the Security Accounts Manager service is now responsible for the Local Security Authority Subsystem.

This executable is responsible for granting or denying access to local resources.

How to stop, start, or restart vCenter Server services
オペレーティング システムを Windows Server 2012 R2 にアップグレードした後、vCenter Server と vSphere Web Client を起動できない
将操作系统升级到 Windows Server 2012 R2 后 vCenter Server 和 vSphere Web Client 无法启动