Missing Menu Bar on the SolarWinds Platform Website

After logging in to the SolarWinds Platform Web Console, you may find that the menu bar does not load as expected. There may also be rendering errors on widgets and a communication error in the top right corner of the page in red.

Cause 1

The customer has the URL Authorization Module installed and enabled in IIS. The URL Authorization is another access control mechanism. 

For more information, see:

• Understanding IIS 7.0 URL Authorization 
• Security Authorization <authorization> 

At the IIS server level, the configured authorization rules are as follows:

<authorization>
                <add accessType="Allow" roles="TEST_Web_Users" />
                <add accessType="Allow" roles="TEST\TEST Web RO" />
                <add accessType="Allow" roles="TEST\TEST Solarwinds Users" />
                <add accessType="Allow" roles="TEST\TEST Infra Support" />
</authorization>

Only members of TEST_Web_Users, TEST\TEST Web RO, TEST\TEST SolarWinds Users, and TEST\TEST Infra Support groups are allowed to access IIS hosted content. 

At the SolarWinds Platform website, level access is more restrictive. Excerpt from web.config:

<system.webServer>
...
        <security>
...
                <authorization>
                        <remove users="" roles="TEST_Web_Users" verbs="" />
                        <remove users="" roles="TEST\TEST Web RO" verbs="" />
                </authorization>
...
        </security>
...
</system.webServer>

Only members of TEST\TEST SolarWinds Users and TEST\TEST Infra Support have access to SolarWinds Platform website content.

When the SolarWinds Platform website builds a top menu, it makes a self-request and pipelines only user account information from the original request into self-request. The request fails with a 401 error code.

Cause 2

A SCOM Agent is installed on the main poller:

Line 24394: 2018-07-05 11:07:41,781 [38] (788) ERROR SolarWinds.Orion.Web.Platform.ApiRequest - (null) Request failed to: http://IPADDRESS/api2/content/viewgroups
Line 24395: 2018-07-05 11:07:41,781 [38] (788) ERROR SolarWinds.Orion.Web.UI.SWTab - (null) Failure retrieving view groups.

Cause 3
 

• According to Websites table, the SolarWinds Platform website was configured to (All unassigned) IP addresses, port 80, SSL not enabled. 
• According to IIS configuration, the site is actually served on specific IP - 10.x.x.x, both HTTP (80) and 443 (https)

• To build the top menu, the SolarWinds Platform website creates self-request to FQDN/Hostname which resolves to local loopback interface address and the request fails.

2018-06-04 11:44:15,635 [78] (15) ERROR SolarWinds.Orion.Web.Platform.ApiRequest - (null) Request failed to: http://HOSTNAME/api2/content/viewgroups 2018-06-04 11:44:15,635 [78] (15) ERROR SolarWinds.Orion.Web.UI.SWTab - (null) Failure retrieving view groups.

Cause 4

The web console is being accessed using HTTPS while only HTTP is configured in IIS.

Cause 5

(Related to Resolution 8)
License missing or misapplied to an Additional Web Server
If there is a problem with Licensing, it can also cause this issue. 
Example from the Apollo Logs:

2020-03-28 14:41:34,926 [16] ERROR SolarWinds.Orion.Web.Host.FilterConfig - SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Common.ModuleLicenseException: License is expired or not available
at SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Common.ModuleLicense.CheckLicense()
at SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Common.CoreLicense.CheckLicense()
at SolarWinds.Orion.Web.WebServerLicenseValidator.Validate()
at SolarWinds.Orion.Web.Host.Filters.LicenseValidationFilterAttribute.OnActionExecuting(ActionExecutingContext filterContext) in C:\buildAgent\work\e80c5f7412bd6c66\Src\Web\SolarWinds.Orion.Web.Host\Filters\LicenseValidationFilterAttribute.cs:line 10
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncControllerActionInvoker.AsyncInvocationWithFilters.InvokeActionMethodFilterAsynchronouslyRecursive(Int32 filterIndex)
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncControllerActionInvoker.AsyncInvocationWithFilters.InvokeActionMethodFilterAsynchronouslyRecursive(Int32 filterIndex)
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncControllerActionInvoker.<>c__DisplayClass33.<BeginInvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__31(AsyncCallback asyncCallback, Object asyncState)
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.WrappedAsyncResult`1.CallBeginDelegate(AsyncCallback callback, Object callbackState)
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.WrappedAsyncResultBase`1.Begin(AsyncCallback callback, Object state, Int32 timeout)
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncControllerActionInvoker.BeginInvokeActionMethodWithFilters(ControllerContext controllerContext, IList`1 filters, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters, AsyncCallback callback, Object state)
at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncControllerActionInvoker.<>c__DisplayClass21.<BeginInvokeAction>b__19(AsyncCallback asyncCallback, Object asyncState)

Cause 6

Incorrect Server Type in the Orion Servers Table

Error from Orion Web:

2022-10-31 02:15:46,318 [39] (3) ERROR SolarWinds.Orion.Web.UI.EvalBanner - (null)  Error while loading eval information.
System.ServiceModel.FaultException`1[SolarWinds.InformationService.Contract2.InfoServiceFaultContract]: RunQuery failed, check fault information.
ProvideFault failed, check fault information. (Fault Detail is equal to InfoServiceFaultContract [ System.ServiceModel.FaultException`1[SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Common.CoreFaultContract]: ProvideFault failed, check fault information. (Fault Detail is equal to SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Common.CoreFaultContract(Unknown): System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: 
Parameter name: serverTypeString
Actual value was Additional.

Cause 7:

Permission issue indicating that the ASP.NET application is unable to execute a required program (csc.exe), which is a Web compiler used by the SolarWinds Platform.

You might encounter an error as well loading the Map in an Intelligent Map Widget:

[HttpException (0x80004005): Cannot execute a program. The command being executed was "D:\Program Files\SolarWinds\Orion\Web\apps\bin\roslyn\csc.exe" /shared /keepalive:"10" /noconfig /fullpaths @"C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Temporary ASP.NET Files\apps\0d9b9df5\f422d218\gv4fqflm.cmdline".] System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context)

Resolution 1

• Change authorization rules for the API2 web application under SolarWinds NetPerfMon website and allow access for "All users" in the file located at  C:\inetpub\SolarWinds\api2.

OR

•  Allow access to API2 app to all Windows users which should have access to the SolarWinds Platform web site explicitly (i.e., add users one by one).

Resolution 2

• Uninstall the SCOM agent that is on the main poller.

Resolution 3

• Run IIS Manager and change SolarWinds Platform website binding to All Unassigned.

Resolution 4

• Access the web console using the configured HTTP protocol.

OR

• Configure the Orion Web Console to use SSL

Resolution 5

Oftentimes, a simple restart of services may be all that is needed to resolve. 
 

• Shutdown Orion Services then Restart All Orion Services
• Reboot the SolarWinds Platform server.

Resolution 6

• Rebuild the Orion Website

Resolution 7

•  Upgrade the existing environment to the latest version

Resolution 8

(Related to Cause 5)
When a Web Server is not licensed correctly, it needs to be checked and fixed.

• Check the SolarWinds Customer portal make sure that the correct Server is activated for the license
• Login to the Main Polling Engine or the Additional Web Server
  • Open Database Manager ([Windows Button] > SolarWinds Orion > Database Manager)
  • Go to the Orion Servers table and make note of the ServerID's 
    • If there is an Additional Web Server remove it 

    • -- Scripts are not supported under any SolarWinds support program or service.
      -- Scripts are provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. SolarWinds further
      -- disclaims all warranties including, without limitation, any implied warranties
      -- of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. The risk arising
      -- out of the use or performance of the scripts and documentation stays with you.
      -- In no event shall SolarWinds or anyone else involved in the creation,
      -- production, or delivery of the scripts be liable for any damages whatsoever
      -- (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business
      -- interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising
      -- out of the use of or inability to use the scripts or documentation.
      
      Delete from OrionServers where OrionServerID = 'YOURID'

  • Check the License Assignment table to see if one of the ServerID's are missing
    • Once any erroneous Additional Web Servers have been removed
    • Re-apply the License
      • On the Orion Website (from a working Web Server), open the License Manager 
      • If the License show misapplied (by showing assigned to the wrong server), click on the check box then click on deactivate 
      • Click on 'Add/Upgrade License' and ever the correct license key
      • Make sure it is assigned to the correct server 

Resolution 9

• XUI is turned off. To check this go to https://<orionserver>/Orion/admin/advancedconfiguration/global.aspx
  (*** your web account needs admin account rights in order to be able to view this URL ***)
   
  Next under the global tab, do a search for xui, it should return one single row: 

  EnableXui

  
  Make sure the checkbox is there in order to enable XUI framework components. If not, put a checkbox there and then restart Solarwinds Services in order for the change to take effect.

Resolution 10

If the customer is using AZURE, advised disabling the header translation.
refer to the Azure technical team

Resolution 11

(related to Cause 6)

• Login to the Main Polling Engine or the Additional Web Server
  • Open Database Manager ([Windows Button] > SolarWinds Orion > Database Manager)
  • Go to the Orion Servers table 
  • Check the ServerType for each entry
    • It should be within these options (MainPoller, AdditionalPoller, AdditionalWebsite)
  • Enable Table Editing and Manually change the incorrect server Type to AdditionalPoller (Note: this depends on the ServerType that was incorrectly set on the Orion Server's Table)
• Click Execute Query to verify if the change took place.
• Reload the Page

Resolution 12

• RDP to the Main Polling Engine
• Navigate to <Volume>:\ Program Files\SolarWinds\Orion\Web
• Right-click on the Web Folder and Click Properties
• Under Security Tab, Look for the user 'Solarwinds Orion Application Pool'
• Click Edit
• Provide Full Control by ticking the Allow Checkbox
• Click Apply
  
  

Resolution 13

• Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Solarwinds
• Right Click Key Storage and Select Properties
• Click Advanced
• Remove the SolarWinds Application Pool Permission Entry  with type "Deny" and Click Apply
• Refresh SolarWinds Web page and the Menu bar should be present