AFX Server on Windows fails to stop/start with a message 'This script requires elevated rights' in RSA Governance & Lifecycle
2 years ago
Article Number
000071960
Applies To
  • RSA Governance & Lifecycle 8.0
Issue
AFX Server on Microsoft Windows fails to stop or start even though the services could be stopped/started successfully previously. When the service fails to stop or start, a message similar to the following is logged in afx_windows.log:
Mon 01/22/2024 14:48:50.59
Starting task "stop"
Checking for access rights
This script requires elevated rights. 
Ending task "stop" with error
Note that:
  • the AFX service can be stopped by browsing to the directory <AFX-install-folder>\bin, right-click on StopAFXServer.bat, and select 'Run as administrator'
  • the AFX service can be started by browsing to the directory <AFX-install-folder>\bin, right-click on StartAFXServer.bat, and select 'Run as administrator'
This issue can also result in a failure to auto-upgrade the AFX server from an older version/patch to a later 8.0 patch, when the corresponding RSA Governance & Lifecycle Cloud instance is upgraded.
Cause
The AFX service scripts incorrectly append the AFX apache-maven folder and the User's PATH to the System PATH, every time the AFX is stopped or started, eventually exceeding the buffer limit for the System PATH and resulting in the removal of other critical paths (such as C:\Windows\system32) from the System PATH variable.
Resolution
This issue has been resolved in the following version/patch:
  • RSA Governance & Lifecycle 8.0.0 P02
Workaround
A workaround is to restore the contents of the System PATH variable. To do so, login as an administrator on the Windows host, right-click Start > System > Advanced System Settings (under Related settings) > Advanced tab > click Environment Variables... > select PATH under System variables > click Edit > remove any redundant/repeated paths (such as C:\AFXServer\apache-maven\bin) and add the missing critical paths (such as C:\Windows\system32), then click OK > OK again to save the changes.

Attempts to stop/start the AFX Server should now succeed.
Notes
AFX Server installation on Microsoft Windows Server is only supported with RSA Governance & Lifecycle Cloud.