Regression: Windows service fails to start

[matbech]

Bug Description:

Starting with version 10.1.0-25060608 up to the latest version 13.2.3, the Windows service fails to start. The last working version was manticore-9.3.2-25050208

The Windows service has been installed with: searchd.exe --install --config c:\config\manticore.conf --servicename Manticore

Manually running searchd.exe with the same config is working as expected.

Maybe related to this commit: https://github.com/manticoresoftware/manticoresearch/commit/f7419a6161ace1b323d8853572ef4d9a894067c6

Manticore Search Version:

13.2.3

Operating System Version:

Windows Server 2025

Have you tried the latest development version?

None

Internal Checklist:

^{To be completed by the assignee. Check off tasks that have been completed or are not applicable.}

• [ ] Implementation completed
• [ ] Tests developed
• [ ] Documentation updated
• [ ] Documentation reviewed

[tomatolog]

I can not reproduce it

C:\Program Files (x86)\Manticore\bin>searchd.exe --install --config C:\dev\sphinx\c1.conf  --servicename Manticore
Manticore 13.2.3 bf96368a6@25070806 (columnar 8.0.0 1f68681@25070110) (secondary 8.0.0 1f68681@25070110) (knn 8.0.0 1f68681@25070110) (embeddings 1.0.0)
Copyright (c) 2001-2016, Andrew Aksyonoff
Copyright (c) 2008-2016, Sphinx Technologies Inc (http://sphinxsearch.com)
Copyright (c) 2017-2025, Manticore Software LTD (https://manticoresearch.com)

[16:54.512] [26584] Installing service...
[16:54.513] [26584] Service 'Manticore' installed successfully.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Manticore\bin>searchd.exe --delete --config C:\dev\sphinx\c1.conf  --servicename Manticore
Manticore 13.2.3 bf96368a6@25070806 (columnar 8.0.0 1f68681@25070110) (secondary 8.0.0 1f68681@25070110) (knn 8.0.0 1f68681@25070110) (embeddings 1.0.0)
Copyright (c) 2001-2016, Andrew Aksyonoff
Copyright (c) 2008-2016, Sphinx Technologies Inc (http://sphinxsearch.com)
Copyright (c) 2017-2025, Manticore Software LTD (https://manticoresearch.com)

[17:02.543] [30984] Deleting service...
[17:02.544] [30984] Service 'Manticore' deleted successfully.

Could you provide the reproducible example of the case or maybe VM where it happens?

[matbech]

Have you actually started the service and verified that it's running? sc start Manticore

[tomatolog]

here is the full start \ stop sequence output

C:\Program Files (x86)\Manticore\bin>sc start Manticore

SERVICE_NAME: Manticore
        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
        STATE              : 2  START_PENDING
                                (NOT_STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x1
        WAIT_HINT          : 0xfa0
        PID                : 43572
        FLAGS              :

C:\Program Files (x86)\Manticore\bin>mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 9306 -vv -e "show tables"
--------------
show tables
--------------

Empty set (0.00 sec)

Bye

C:\Program Files (x86)\Manticore\bin>sc stop Manticore

SERVICE_NAME: Manticore
        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
        STATE              : 3  STOP_PENDING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x2
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

[matbech]

Manticore 9.3.2 428075261@25050208 runs without any issues. Manticore 10.1.0-25060608 up to the latest version (14.1.x) fails to start as service and the following error is logged: [8900] FATAL: no readable config file (looked in c:/manticore/etc/manticoresearch/manticore.conf, ./manticore.conf).

The service "ImagePath" registry value is set to: redacted\manticore\bin\searchd.exe --ntservice --config redacted\manticore\manticore.conf --servicename Manticore

There are no spaces in the config file path. I have also added double quotes around the path. The service runs as "LocalSystem" which has full access to the config file and to its parent folders.

When I copy the manticore.conf file to "C:\manticore\etc\manticoresearch\manticore.conf" it starts as well, also when creating a hard link from C:\manticore\etc\manticoresearch\manticore.conf to redacted\manticore\manticore.conf

When running as a service, it ignores the --config argument. To reproduce, delete the default manticore.conf at: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Manticore\etc\manticoresearch\manticore.conf" or in the other default locations it is looking for (see above).

[github-actions[bot]]

Thanks for the update! However, the internal checklist is not yet complete. A Manticore team member will close this issue once everything is checked off. 🛠️

[tomatolog]

I fixed the issue with the Windows service can be started if the custom config path set for that service at https://github.com/manticoresoftware/manticoresearch/commit/1185df93f4bb80dff1c4bb179b33690c52281828

You need to use package from the dev repository to get issue fixed

[sanikolaev]

@PavelShilin89 let's add a test for this issue if it's not very difficult.