Install rabbitmq server on a mapped network drive

[gustavo-ojeda]

Describe the bug

I am trying to install the latest versions of rabbitmq server on a mapped network drive using Windows (10 specifically). The Folder associated to the drive is in a different machine.

In order to do this I've tried setting HOMEDRIVE and HOMEPATH variables to the selected drive, let's say volume Z.

Reproduction steps

1. Set HOMEDRIVE to Z:
2. Set HOMEPATH to \
3. Start the installer (exe file) using Admin privileges and select the install folder in Z:\RabbitMQ. All the files are copied correctly.
4. Select Start service option.

Expected behavior

The service is started and work as expected. The installation is completed.

Additional context

The actual behavior shows an error while starting the service. So after disabling the Start service option and closing the installer dialog I tried to start it manually from a Terminal (using Admin access) and I got this:

> rabbitmq-service.bat remove
> set HOMEDRIVE=Z:
> rabbitmq-service.bat install
> rabbitmq-service.bat start
The RabbitMQ service is starting.
The RabbitMQ service could not be started.

A system error has occurred.

System error 1067 has occurred.

The process terminated unexpectedly.

I've also tried using UNC paths but it doesn't work either.

[michaelklishin]

@gustavo-ojeda filing issues for questions in repositories that have Discussions enabled in late 2024 is just rude.

I am not at all a Windows expert but setting HOMEDRIVE in the shell may or may not be enough. Such "more permanent" things must be set system-wide and not in a specific shell section. IIRC both HOMEDRIVE and HOMEPATH must be set because the runtime's shared secret path uses %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%.

rabbitmq-server.bat and rabbitmq-service.bat are both open source. You are welcome to take a look at what they do and explicitly or implicitly expect.

And so is the Windows installer code, in case there might be something relevant there.

[lukebakken]

Don't do this - we don't test installation to mapped drives.

[michaelklishin]

And using network-attached storage for node's data directories is not a good idea if other options exist.