Fast Search 2010 - While running 'get-FASTSearchSettingGroup' command, Getting error: "Failed to communicate with the WCF service."

For one of my Premier 'FAST search for SharePoint 2010' customers, 'get-FASTSearchSettingGroup' command was throwing an error.

Here are details of the issue and it’s resolution:

 

Symptom

When running PowerShell command : "Get-FASTSearchSettingGroup" in order to update a bestbets file, getting an error: "Failed to communicate with the WCF service."

Cause

FAST administration app pool account's password was changed so it had to be updated manually in the App pool identity.

Resolution

· We went to IIS manager and  found that the Fast Administration app pool was stopped.
· We manually started it.
· Then went to FAST PowerShell again and ran the command get-FASTSearchSettingGroup which returned the same error.
· Checked that the FAST administration site App pool got stopped again.
· We suspected that the app pool identity was not updated when the password might have been changed for the account.
· Went to app pool and updated App pool credentials with new password.
· Then ran the same PowerShell command and it worked this time.

 

I Hope that helps! Happy searching !!

Comments

• Anonymous
  July 06, 2017
  I have a few points to make:1. get-FASTSearchSettingGroup should be get-FASTSearchSearchSettingGroup and2 If the FastSearch Search settings group is missing it is automatically created by launching the page /_layouts/contextualkeywordmanagement.aspx 3. Ensure the SPAppPool account and fast admin are members of the FAST server local group FASTSearchKeywordAdministrators, if this group is missing then create it.
  • Anonymous
    April 05, 2018
    Great points Paul, Thank you !!