SOLVED Secondary Site: Failed to start the SQL Server Express installation

[zimon]

Dear community

I'm dealing with an issue for a day now and i can't get passed it.
I am trying to install a Second Site and it keep failing with...

ERROR: Failed to start the SQL Server Express installation process.    Configuration Manager Setup    22.07.2022 18:21:49    668 (0x029C)
INFO: send message 0x0003fff5 to parent    Configuration Manager Setup    22.07.2022 18:21:49    668 (0x029C)
INFO: send message 0x0003fffe to parent    Configuration Manager Setup    22.07.2022 18:21:49    668 (0x029C)
Setup failed to install SQL Server Express. Secondary site installation cannot be completed. Refer to the SQL Server installation log at 00000135B8450000rogramfiles\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Setup Bootstrap\Log. For more information, visit https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143702.aspx.    Configuration Manager Setup    22.07.2022 18:21:49    668 (0x029C)

The referenced SQL Log is nowhere to be found on the system.

I have a primary site running 2012 R2 with current branch and a SQL 2016 Full Version.
Due to an issue with Cloud Management Gateway, support told us to try install a Second Site and from there deploy CMG.
The Second Site is a 2019 Server with latest patches, .NET 4.8 and the necessary features.
Prerequisites check is fine with some minor/general warnings.

From the logs I see the command that is used to install SQL Express and if I do it manually it works just fine.
Then I thought I may keep the manually installed SQL Express but it always tells me that there is already an instance installed and that it cannot be used.

So I am stuck with not being able to install SQL during setup and not able to use a manually installed SQL instance.

Any ideas?

Many thanks
Simon

 

[zimon]

I just tried a Standalone SQL 2019 instance and I get the message that it cannot use the instance even though I just created a fresh out of the press named instance with all the needed permissions.

[Failed]:Configuration Manager requires a dedicated SQL Server instance to host its site database.
You selected a SQL Server instance that hosts the site database for another Configuration Manager site.
 Select a different SQL Server instance for this new site to use, or resolve the conflict by uninstalling the other site or moving its database to a different SQL Server instance.

 

[zimon]

I just tried a Standalone SQL 2019 instance and I get the message that it cannot use the instance even though I just created a fresh out of the press named instance with all the needed permissions.

[Failed]:Configuration Manager requires a dedicated SQL Server instance to host its site database.
You selected a SQL Server instance that hosts the site database for another Configuration Manager site.
 Select a different SQL Server instance for this new site to use, or resolve the conflict by uninstalling the other site or moving its database to a different SQL Server instance.

I was able to solve the issue with the Standalone instance.
I was missing a local group containing the Primary Site Server that is then used in SQL with dbcreator permissions.
But I was never able to install with SQL Express...