Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

<< Using the CloudStorage.API: The Entity Storage | Home | Extensible Windows Azure projects using MEF >>

Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

The error is from the RDRuntimeLoader.exe and says that ”Windows i trying to identify the problem…”. Is your Windows Azure Application crashing when you hit F5? This is the reason:

Dramatic title and intro huh? ;~) I just wanted to get your attention on this completely understandable but yet annoying error you get when you try to launch an Azure App in the Development Fabric.

Symptoms:

This is what the error looks like.

All the while your Visual Studio completely hangs and nothing responds. After the time out time which is about 30 seconds a screen appears with the title “Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio CTP” and text “Role instances did not start within the time allowed. Please try again. If you continue to encounter this behavior please try shutting down the Development Fabric.”

Reason:

You are most likely deploying your Windows Azure application missing a project reference. How is that possible? The application compiled? Well if you have a reference that has a reference itself that is not part of the standard .NET Framework (3.5 at present time) deployment that second reference will not be automatically added to your Web- or WorkerRole in the Azure App. Since the reference is missing the binary is not deployed. Thus when you try to launch the deployment it won’t start at all. After a while the attempt times out.

Solution:

You have to manually make sure that the references of the references of all your references (etc. – you get the picture) are all referenced directly from the Azure Role you are deploying. Otherwise they will not be deployed and you get your crash. The problem immediately goes away when you get it right.

If I’d like anything to be different about this error I would have wished for a better error message that would tell you exactly which .dll reference is missing. The reason for the error is pretty clear; Human Error. Of course you have to deploy all dependencies – how else should the Application run? ;~)

Cheers,

Technorati Tags: Windows Azure

posted @ Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:29 AM

Comments on this entry:

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by Baskar at 9/17/2009 12:10 PM

Hi, i also got the same error, when i am trying to work om "Multiple WebRole ans WorkerRole" n cloud. after adding 2 WebRole and Worker Role, i hit the F5 button, it shows the same error, Can you tell ,et how to solve this

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by noopman at 9/17/2009 12:15 PM

What you have to do is add reference from eacy web-/worker role to all other assemblies your code references. If you miss one the deployment fails due to missing reference.

The issue is that your code compiles good even without these references but you cannot get the deployment to run.

Does that help?

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by Baskar at 9/17/2009 12:37 PM

Thanks for you reply,

Still am getting same error, may be i am wrong in adding a references, can you tell exactly where i need to add a refernces,

1.WebRole1
2.WorkerRole1
3.WebRole2
4.WorkerRole2

and in the solution file im have this 4 file under the Roles folder.

can you tell me where i need to add refernces

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by Baskar at 9/17/2009 1:32 PM

Thanks for replay,

Even after adding a reference also am getting the same error,

May be am wrong in adding a refernces,
can you tell me where to add a refetrence

in my solution explorer, i have

1. cloud app,
2. WebRole1
3. WorkerRole1
4. WebRole2
5 .WorkerRole2

can you tell me where i suppose to add the references

Thanks in Advance

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by noopman at 9/17/2009 6:50 PM

Hello again!

From the information you give me I have no way of knowing if you have the exact issue that I am describing.

Let me explain my situation further:

I have a role (worker or web). It uses an assembly "A". That assembly gets deployed - no problem!

The issue is when the Assembly "A" in turn references another assembly "B". That second Assembly does not get deployed automatically.

What you have to do is, from your Auzre Role, add a reference to both "A" and "B".

That way both will get deployed to your development fabric and to the cloud.

If this is the problem you are experiencing and it does solve your issue please get back to me and let me know!

Or if there is anything further I may do for you.

Cheers,

M.

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by Gregg at 10/6/2009 8:03 PM

What cause the error to show if "Start with Debugging" is used but not if "Start without Debugging" is used?

I have also get this error. It occurs when running the sample hello world from the Azure SDK. The only references in it are System and System.Web

Thanks
Gregg

# re: Windows Azure crashes if all dependencies are not deployed

Left by Alan at 11/29/2009 1:11 AM

Huzzah! Yes, it appears that I foolishly had some "unrequired" references pointing to nothing. Deleted them and away it went!

I feel so foolish! Thanks!