proper command to install with config.yaml and web.config.file options

[lkowitz]

Problem Statement

I'm trying to install windows_exporter with a prewritten config.yaml and web.config.yaml web.config.file. However, I'm not getting the results I'd expect. The install directory has the below files in it.
c:\Temp\windows_exporter_install>dir
Volume in drive C is Windows
Volume Serial Number is 183B-1E6B

Directory of c:\Temp\windows_exporter_install

08/07/2025 10:31 AM

.
08/07/2025 10:32 AM ..
08/05/2025 10:45 AM 154 config.yaml
08/06/2025 03:33 PM 4,838 web.config.yaml
07/28/2025 03:56 PM 11,403,264 windows_exporter-0.31.1-amd64.msi

I've tried a couple of different versions of the command without success. Can you provide some guidance?

msiexec.exe /l*v C:\Windows\companyName\windows_exporter_install.log /i windows_exporter-0.31.1-amd64.msi ADDLOCAL=FirewallException CONFIG_FILE="config.yaml" EXTRA_FLAGS="--web.config.file='C:\Program Files\windows_exporter\web.config.yaml'"

This command will not complete installation and fails at the starting service section. The install fails and rolls back- I'm guessing because the web.config.yaml file is not in the C:\Program Files\windows_exporter directory, but how could it be there? We just started installing and the directories didn't previously exist.

msiexec.exe /l*v C:\Windows\companyName\windows_exporter_install.log /i windows_exporter-0.31.1-amd64.msi ADDLOCAL=FirewallException CONFIG_FILE="config.yaml" EXTRA_FLAGS="--web.config.file='web.config.yaml'"

This command completes the installation but I can't start the service even with the web.config.yaml file copied to the c:\program files\windows_exporter\ directory.

I attached the log from the msiexec command. Also, below are some logs from the windows system event log:
A service was installed in the system.

Service Name: windows_exporter
Service File Name: "c:\Program Files\windows_exporter\windows_exporter.exe" --config.file="c:\Program Files\windows_exporter\config.yaml" --web.config.file='web.config.yaml'
Service Type: user mode service
Service Start Type: auto start
Service Account: LocalSystem

The windows_exporter service entered the running state.

The windows_exporter service entered the stopped state.

The windows_exporter service terminated with the following service-specific error:
Incorrect function.

windows_exporter_install.txt

Environment

• windows_exporter Version:0.31.1
• Windows Server Version: 2022

[jkroepke]

but how could it be there?

Try out 0.31.2, because it did not roll back anymore. Then, you can create the web.config.yaml after installation. Otherwise, create the directory on your own.

EXTRA_FLAGS="--web.config.file='web.config.yaml'"

Try to avoid the single quotes in that context.