FAQ: How do I solve the issue - The configuration file contains an element that is not valid?

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Question

In Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), you may encounter the error "The report server has encountered a configuration error" while starting the SSRS service.

 

Answer

The issue is probably caused by the rsreportserver.config configuration file unexpectedly modified or some settings misconfigured. In this case

the detailed error message will indicate which element cause the problem. You can check the detailed error message in the SSRS execution log. For example, there is the error below:

appdomainmanager!DefaultDomain!1004!<DateTime>:: i INFO: Entered managed ServiceMain in DefaultDomain.

configmanager!DefaultDomain!734!< DateTime>:: e ERROR: Error loading configuration file: The configuration file contains an element that is not valid. The Configuration element is not a configuration file element.

library!DefaultDomain!734!< DateTime>:: e ERROR: Throwing Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.Utilities.ServerConfigurationErrorException: , Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.Utilities.ServerConfigurationErrorException: The report server has encountered a configuration error.  ---> System.Exception: The configuration file contains an element that is not valid. The Configuration element is not a configuration file element.

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.ExtensionsConfiguration.ParseExtensionElement(XmlNode child, Extension& extension, String childName)

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.ExtensionsConfiguration.ParseRenderExtensions(XmlNode child, ExtensionArray array)

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.ExtensionsConfiguration.ParseExtensions(XmlNode child, ExtensionArray array)

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.ExtensionsConfiguration.ParseXML(XmlNode node)

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.RSConfigurationFileManager.ParseDocument(XmlDocument xmlConfiguration)

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.RSConfigurationFileManager.LoadDocument()

   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.RSConfigurationFileManager.LoadConfiguration()

 

From the error message, there is a <Configuration> element that is invalid.

In order to solve the issue, please follow these steps:

  • 1. Open the rsreportserver.config file with text editor
  • 2. Search for each <Configuration> setting
  • 3. Correct the element if it is invalid.

 

Or, you can replace each <Configuration> element with the same setting from another SSRS(which is running file) rsreportserver.config file.

Applies to

SQL Server Reporting Services 2005
SQL Server Reporting Services 2008
SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 R2