Symptoms
After K2 Server restart K2 Connect service hosted on the same machine fails to start with the following error:
The K2 connect Server service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services and programs.
When attempting to access K2 connect Administration Tools the following error is displayed (due to the fact that service is not running):
K2 connect Server failed. Time out has expired and the operation has not been completed.
The following error being logged in Application log upon attempt to start K2 Connect server:
Log Name: Application
Source: K2 connect Server
Event ID: 0
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: SERVER_NAME.domain.com
Description: Service cannot be started. System.InvalidOperationException: The ConnectionString property has not been initialized. at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.PermissionDemand() at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open() at SourceCode.ServiceObjectModel.Server.DataStorage.ServiceObjectModelCoordinatorLayer.Open() at SourceCode.ServiceObjectModel.Server.Runtime.Service.ServiceObjectModelServerService.OnStart(Stringe] args) at System.ServiceProcess.ServiceBase.ServiceQueuedMainCallback(Object state)
Diagnoses
"The K2 connect Server service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services and programs." error may occur due to different reasons (for example K2 Connect license expiration) and it is necessary to check Application log to check for a specific root cause error.
In this case the following has been logged in Application log: "Service cannot be started. System.InvalidOperationException: The ConnectionString property has not been initialized."
This is normally caused by insufficient privileges for K2 Connect Service account which has to have local Administrator rights on K2 Server. As per K2 Connect product documentation:
The Service accounts used by the K2 connect Server enable the service to run and access the various network resources. The K2 connect Server can be run using any suitable domain service accounts for example:
1. System Account
2. The installation account, if granted the correct rights
3. The K2 Service Account
4. A dedicated account for the K2 connect Service
These accounts must be part of the Local Administrators Group. See the Permissions topic for more information on required permissions. Source: http://help.k2.com/onlinehelp/K2connect/UserGuide/current/default.htm#Security_Permissions_Requirements.htm
Most likely above mentioned error is caused by the lack of access for K2 service account to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESourceCodeconnectConfigurationSqlConnectionString
Resolution
K2 Connect service account requires local administrator rights on the server. This is documented requirement - see details above.
