Troubleshoot common problems related to Web Deploy
Article
Applies to: Internet Information Services
This article describes how to diagnose and fix common problems with Web Deploy, including common errors seen while publishing from Visual Studio 2010.
Logging
When you run into issues related to Web Deploy, there are several logging options depending on where the problem occurs. By default, Web Deploy logs to the Event Log under Applications > Microsoft Web Deploy. It's a great place to start looking for errors on the destination server.
If you can't diagnose the problem using the Event Log, here are some other options:
Use Web Deploy MSI logs located under %programfiles%\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy v3 to diagnose installation problems.
If Web Management Service or Remote Agent Service fails to start, see the error details by going to Event Viewer (Local) > Windows Logs > System for Service Control Manager.
For certain common error cases, Web Deploy shows a message and an error code that may be useful in getting more information to troubleshoot an issue. For a full list of error codes, see Web Deploy error codes.
Note
The error message may be different depending on how Web Deploy is invoked. For example, Microsoft WebMatrix chooses to show custom error messages instead of error codes, whereas the command line will always show error codes if they're logged.
Installation problems
1. Couldn't install Web Deploy on a valid OS
Symptoms
The Operating System (OS) is correct, and the version and bitness of Web Deploy are correct, but the installation doesn't succeed.
Root cause
Unknown
Fix/Workaround
Look in the install log, located in %programfiles%\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy V3.
2. Web Deploy doesn't function after an upgrade
Symptoms
Web Deploy doesn't work after a version upgrade.
Root cause
Web Deploy doesn't restart services after an upgrade.
Fix/Workaround
If you're upgrading an existing installation of Web Deploy, make sure to restart the handler and agent services by running the following commands at an administrative command prompt: net stop msdepsvc net start msdepsvc net stop wmsvc net start wmsvc
3. Couldn't install Web Deploy 32-bit version on 64-bit hardware
Symptoms
Root cause
Trying to install 32-bit on 64-bit OS is a check inside the Web Deploy MSI that fails because it doesn't support WoW64 mode.
Fix/Workaround
Install the same version that matches the architecture of your OS.
4. Couldn't install Web Deploy 64-bit version on 32-bit hardware
Symptoms
Root cause
Trying to install 64-bit on 32-bit OS is a check inside Web Deploy's MSI that will fail.
Fix/Workaround
Install the same version that matches the architecture of your OS.
5. Couldn't register the URL namespace due to pre-existing namespace
Symptoms
Unable to install Web Deploy.
Root cause
The URL namespace that Web Deploy tries to create during installation is already registered.
Fix/Workaround
- Remove the conflicting registration. - Change Web Deploy URL during installation msiexec /i wdeploy.msi /passive ADDLOCAL=ALL LISTENURL=http://+:8080/MSDEPLOY2/. For more information about URL customization, see Customizing and Securing the Remote Service.
Remote Agent Service problems
1. Couldn't initialize Microsoft.Web.Deployment.Dll during start-up
Symptoms
Remote Agent Service fails to start.
Root cause
msdepsvc.exe or other files are missing from %programfiles%\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy v3.
Fix/Workaround
Reinstall the product.
2. Remote Agent Service isn't started
Symptoms
Microsoft.Web.Deployment.DeploymentAgentUnavailableException: Remote agent (URL http://DestinationServer/msdeployagentservice) could not be contacted. Make sure the remote agent service is installed and started on the target computer. ---> System.Net.WebException: The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.
Root cause
Remote Agent Service isn't started.
Fix/Workaround
Start the service: net start msdepsvc.
3. Trying to connect to a server where HTTP isn't listening or allowed
Symptoms
Microsoft.Web.Deployment.DeploymentAgentUnavailableException: Remote agent (URL http://DestinationServer/msdeployagentservice) could not be contacted. Make sure the remote agent service is installed and started on the target computer. ---> System.Net.WebException: Unable to connect to the remote server ---> System.Net.Sockets.SocketException: No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it DestinationServer:80
Root cause
HTTP isn't listening.
Fix/Workaround
Make sure HTTP traffic is allowed to the Remote Agent Service.
4. Trying to connect to a server with the Method Not Allowed error
Symptoms
Microsoft.Web.Deployment.DeploymentException: Could not complete the request to remote agent URL 'http://DestinationServer/'. ---> System.Net.WebException: The remote server returned an error: (405) Method Not Allowed.
Root cause
The request was picked up by Internet Information Services (IIS) itself instead of MS Deploy because the path to msdepsvc.exe is missing.
Fix/Workaround
Change the URL to include /MSDeployAgentService.
5. Trying to access Remote Agent Service as a non-administrator
Symptoms
Microsoft.Web.Deployment.DeploymentException: Could not complete the request to remote agent URL 'http://DestinationServer/msdeployAgentService'. --->; System.Net.WebException: The remote server returned an error: (401) Unauthorized.
Root cause
Remote Agent Service requires that the caller is a member of the Administrators group or from a domain account that has been added to the Administrators group. A local administrator that isn't the built-in account won't work with the Remote Agent Service because of a bug in Web Deploy 2.0.
Fix/Workaround
Provide administrative credentials.
6. Remote Agent Service hangs during operation
Symptoms
Service may stop responding for a long time, up to several hours.
Root cause
Unknown.
Fix/Workaround
Stop the operation and attempt to repeat it.
7. Client and server aren't compatible (version mismatch)
Symptoms
Timestamp=24638007621418 MsDepSvc.exe Error: 0 : An error occurred. The exception details are as follows: Microsoft.Web.Deployment.DeploymentClientServerException: The client and server aren't compatible. The lowest version supported by the client is '7.1.538.0'. The highest version supported by the server is '7.1.537.0'.
Root cause
Some versions don't work together, so Web Deploy blocks them from working together. It's typically done to block pre-release versions from operating with released versions.
Fix/Workaround
Match the versions.
8. Remote Agent Service couldn't start listening on the URL
Symptoms
The Remote Agent Service couldn't start listening on the URL '{0}'. Make sure that the URL isn't in use.
Root cause
Usually indicates a URL conflict.
Fix/Workaround
Try reinstalling if you want the default URL or setting a custom URL as specified in the documentation. For more information about URL customization, see Customizing and Securing the Remote Service.
Web Management Service problems
1. Web Management Service isn't started
Symptoms
Web Management Service isn't started.
Root cause
Unknown. The service should be started by default.
Fix/Workaround
Start the Web Management Service service: Net Start WMSVC.
2. Not Authorized: User not authorized by deployment handler rules
Symptoms
Couldn't complete an operation with the specified provider <ProviderName> when connecting using the Web Management Service. This can occur if the server administrator hasn't authorized the user for this operation.
Root cause
A non-administrator user tried to perform a restricted action with a provider. This action usually indicates that a matching delegation rule wasn't found. Either the username, provider, operation, or provider path is wrong.
Fix/Workaround
The workaround is to fix the delegation rule or create one. For more information about delegation rules, see Configure the Web Deployment Handler.
Errors when publishing from Visual Studio
For more information on troubleshooting common errors that you may encounter when trying to publish from Visual Studio to a server that hasn't been correctly configured via Web Deploy, see Troubleshooting Web Deploy problems with Visual Studio.
