QEMU Guest Agent - service not starting

[Virtio]

When installing the guest agent on some servers we are encountering this error when attempting to install the Guest Agent.

"Service 'QEMU Guest Agent' (QEMU-GA) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient privelleges to start system services." This kills the installer and it rolls back. If we do not cancel the installation we can interact with the service, and retry. Still will not start and shows the same error.

This is happening on mostly 2016 vm's but also on some 2019 hosts. When looking at a similar 2019 host vm that does not have the error both machines are at the same OS Version build. Same patches, same domain GPO and security settings. Nothing stands out. Running as local admin, domain admin all has same result.

Manually extracting the MSI and installing via cmd we can install VSS service and start it. QEMU service will install, just wont start. If we set service to run as a named account, even admin we encounter the same error. Service failed to start.....

Anyone face this and have a solution?

 

[hd--]

A common mistake is, that the qemu-guest-agent was not really enabled in the VM settings [0], have you checked that?

[0] https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/solved-windows-qemu-guest-agent-service-wont-start.54738/

 

[Virtio]

A common mistake is, that the qemu-guest-agent was not really enabled in the VM settings [0], have you checked that?

[0] https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/solved-windows-qemu-guest-agent-service-wont-start.54738/

Yes sir it is enabled - I had read about that issue as well. We now have 7 vm's with this issue. Mostly server 2016 but there is one 2019 vm as well. It probably is something simple but to be honest I cant think of anything I have not looked at or tried. Very odd. Only thing I can think of that may be different across devices would be which version or iteration of some type of optimization tool was run against the vm's at some point. Even with that If I go almost line by line I do not see any differences in regkeys or settings that would cause this.

 

[VictorSTS]

Make sure that QEMU Guest Agent is enabled in VM config and the driver for virtio serial is installed and running (check device manager about not working devices or missing drivers).

Run the installer from an elevated command prompt and generate an install log:

D:\guest-agent\qemu-ga-x86-64.msi /log C:\install.log

Check the log to find out what's causing you problems on each VM. Post the relevant error lines.
Those VMs had a previous versions of QEMU Agent installed?

 

[Virtio]

Thank you. The logging is really not very telling. Windows event logs show even less.


=== Logging started: 4/29/2024 15:32:50 ===
Action 15:32:50: INSTALL.
Action start 15:32:50: INSTALL.
Action 15:32:50: FindRelatedProducts. Searching for related applications
Action start 15:32:50: FindRelatedProducts.
Action ended 15:32:50: FindRelatedProducts. Return value 1.
Action 15:32:50: LaunchConditions. Evaluating launch conditions
Action start 15:32:50: LaunchConditions.
Action ended 15:32:50: LaunchConditions. Return value 1.
Action 15:32:50: ValidateProductID.
Action start 15:32:50: ValidateProductID.
Action ended 15:32:50: ValidateProductID. Return value 1.
Action 15:32:50: CostInitialize. Computing space requirements
Action start 15:32:50: CostInitialize.
Action ended 15:32:50: CostInitialize. Return value 1.
Action 15:32:50: FileCost. Computing space requirements
Action start 15:32:50: FileCost.
Action ended 15:32:50: FileCost. Return value 1.
Action 15:32:50: CostFinalize. Computing space requirements
Action start 15:32:50: CostFinalize.
Action ended 15:32:50: CostFinalize. Return value 1.
Action 15:32:50: MigrateFeatureStates. Migrating feature states from related applications
Action start 15:32:50: MigrateFeatureStates.
Action ended 15:32:50: MigrateFeatureStates. Return value 0.
Action 15:32:50: ExecuteAction.
Action start 15:32:50: ExecuteAction.
Action start 15:32:50: INSTALL.
Action start 15:32:50: FindRelatedProducts.
Action ended 15:32:50: FindRelatedProducts. Return value 0.
Action start 15:32:50: LaunchConditions.
Action ended 15:32:50: LaunchConditions. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: ValidateProductID.
Action ended 15:32:50: ValidateProductID. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: CostInitialize.
Action ended 15:32:50: CostInitialize. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: FileCost.
Action ended 15:32:50: FileCost. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: CostFinalize.
Action ended 15:32:50: CostFinalize. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: MigrateFeatureStates.
Action ended 15:32:50: MigrateFeatureStates. Return value 0.
Action start 15:32:50: InstallValidate.
Action ended 15:32:50: InstallValidate. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: RemoveExistingProducts.
Action ended 15:32:50: RemoveExistingProducts. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: InstallInitialize.
Action ended 15:32:50: InstallInitialize. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: ProcessComponents.
Action ended 15:32:50: ProcessComponents. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: UnpublishFeatures.
Action ended 15:32:50: UnpublishFeatures. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: StopServices.
Action ended 15:32:50: StopServices. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: DeleteServices.
Action ended 15:32:50: DeleteServices. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: RemoveRegistryValues.
Action ended 15:32:50: RemoveRegistryValues. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: RemoveFiles.
Action ended 15:32:50: RemoveFiles. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: InstallFiles.
Action ended 15:32:50: InstallFiles. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: WriteRegistryValues.
Action ended 15:32:50: WriteRegistryValues. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: InstallServices.
Action ended 15:32:50: InstallServices. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: RegisterCom.
Action ended 15:32:50: RegisterCom. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: StartServices.
Action ended 15:32:50: StartServices. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: RegisterUser.
Action ended 15:32:50: RegisterUser. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: RegisterProduct.
Action ended 15:32:50: RegisterProduct. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: PublishFeatures.
Action ended 15:32:50: PublishFeatures. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: PublishProduct.
Action ended 15:32:50: PublishProduct. Return value 1.
Action start 15:32:50: InstallFinalize.
Error 1920. Service 'QEMU Guest Agent' (QEMU-GA) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services.
MSI (s) (64:10) [15:33:36:549]: Product: QEMU guest agent -- Error 1920. Service 'QEMU Guest Agent' (QEMU-GA) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services.

Are you sure you want to cancel?
Action ended 15:33:37: InstallFinalize. Return value 3.
Action ended 15:33:37: INSTALL. Return value 3.
Property(S): UpgradeCode = {EB6B8302-C06E-4BEC-ADAC-932C68A3A98D}
Property(S): VersionNT = 603
Property(S): WindowsBuild = 9600
Property(S): qemu_ga_directory = C:\Program Files\Qemu-ga\
Property(S): ProgramFiles64Folder = C:\Program Files\
Property(S): TARGETDIR = C:\
Property(S): SourceDir = C:\temp\
Property(S): ALLUSERS = 1
Property(S): ARPNOMODIFY = yes
Property(S): rundll = rundll32.exe
Property(S): REINSTALLMODE = amus
Property(S): Manufacturer = RedHat
Property(S): ProductLanguage = 1033
Property(S): ProductCode = {2A0DCBBB-6D50-4484-903F-5D534371E370}
Property(S): ProductName = QEMU guest agent
Property(S): ProductVersion = 106.0.1
Property(S): SecureCustomProperties = WIX_DOWNGRADE_DETECTED;WIX_UPGRADE_DETECTED
Property(S): VersionNT64 = 603
Property(S): VersionMsi = 5.00
Property(S): MsiSystemRebootPending = 1
Property(S): ADDLOCAL = QEMUFeature
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Property(S): WindowsFolder = C:\Windows\
Property(S): WindowsVolume = C:\
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Property(S): PersonalFolder = C:\Users\D87UAdmin\Documents\
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Property(S): ProgramMenuFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Property(S): StartMenuFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\
Property(S): DesktopFolder = C:\Users\Public\Desktop\
Property(S): FontsFolder = C:\Windows\Fonts\
Property(S): GPTSupport = 1
Property(S): OLEAdvtSupport = 1
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Property(S): MsiAMD64 = 6
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Property(S): ColorBits = 32
Property(S): TTCSupport = 1
Property(S): Time = 15:33:37
Property(S): Date = 4/29/2024
Property(S): MsiNetAssemblySupport = 4.8.3761.0
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Property(S): Privileged = 1
Property(S): DATABASE = C:\Windows\Installer\768d9b0.msi
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Property(S): SOURCEDIR = C:\temp\
Property(S): SourcedirProduct = {2A0DCBBB-6D50-4484-903F-5D534371E370}
Property(S): ProductToBeRegistered = 1
Action ended 15:33:37: ExecuteAction. Return value 3.
Action ended 15:33:37: INSTALL. Return value 3.
Property(C): UpgradeCode = {EB6B8302-C06E-4BEC-ADAC-932C68A3A98D}
Property(C): VersionNT = 603
Property(C): SystemFolder = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
Property(C): qemu_ga_directory = C:\Program Files\Qemu-ga\
Property(C): ProgramFiles64Folder = C:\Program Files\
Property(C): TARGETDIR = C:\
Property(C): SourceDir = C:\temp\
Property(C): ALLUSERS = 1
Property(C): ARPNOMODIFY = yes
Property(C): rundll = rundll32.exe
Property(C): REINSTALLMODE = amus
Property(C): Manufacturer = RedHat
Property(C): ProductLanguage = 1033
Property(C): ProductCode = {2A0DCBBB-6D50-4484-903F-5D534371E370}
Property(C): ProductName = QEMU guest agent
Property(C): ProductVersion = 106.0.1
Property(C): SecureCustomProperties = WIX_DOWNGRADE_DETECTED;WIX_UPGRADE_DETECTED
Property(C): System64Folder = C:\Windows\system32\
Property(C): WindowsVolume = C:\
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Property(C): MsiSystemRebootPending = 1
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Property(C): PersonalFolder = C:\Users\D87UAdmin\Documents\
Property(C): PrintHoodFolder = C:\Users\D87UAdmin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts\
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Property(C): LocalAppDataFolder = C:\Users\D87UAdmin\AppData\Local\
Property(C): MyPicturesFolder = C:\Users\D87UAdmin\Pictures\
Property(C): AdminToolsFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\
Property(C): StartupFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
Property(C): ProgramMenuFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Property(C): StartMenuFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\
Property(C): DesktopFolder = C:\Users\Public\Desktop\
Property(C): FontsFolder = C:\Windows\Fonts\
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Property(C): INSTALLLEVEL = 1
=== Logging stopped: 4/29/2024 15:33:37 ===
MSI (c) (28:54) [15:33:37:648]: Product: QEMU guest agent -- Installation failed.

MSI (c) (28:54) [15:33:37:649]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name: QEMU guest agent. Product Version: 106.0.1. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: RedHat. Installation success or error status: 1603.


This is being run as full admin user.

 

[VictorSTS]

Those VMs had a previous versions of QEMU Agent installed?

Make sure that QEMU Guest Agent is enabled in VM config and the driver for virtio serial is installed and running (check device manager about not working devices or missing drivers).

Post vm config qm config <VMID>

 

[Virtio]

Thanks Victor. We have another Server 2019 vm with the same issue now. Guest agent is enabled in config as shown in UI. I will have a more privileged user run the command to also view config output.

From the guest machine the Virtio serial is installed and running. Device Manager shows no issues. These have never had QEMU installed.

 

[VictorSTS]

I've seen more issues with the VSS part (having to reset the MS DTC, having to manually remove a half installed VSS provider, etc) than the agent itself. I suppose the VSS part is ok per you previous posts.

Every time I've seen the error that your are facing it's been because either the agent wasn't enabled in the VM config or because the VirtIO serial driver wasn't installed / enabled / running correctly (get-pnpdevice | select-string -pattern 'VirtIO Serial').

You may copy the C:\Program Files\Qemu-ga folder from a working server to a non working one and try to run it manually. Maybe it will tell some more information.