SharePoint 2013: Set-SPEnterpriseSearchTopology : Could not connect to the HostController

Description

After configuring all of the Enterprise Search components for a new Search Topology, the activation of the Search Topology fails.


Error Message


PS C:\> Set-SPEnterpriseSearchTopology -Identity $SearchTopologyName
Set-SPEnterpriseSearchTopology : Could not connect to the HostController
service on server SERVERNAME Topology Activation could not be started.
At line:1 char:1
+ Set-SPEnterpriseSearchTopology -Identity $SearchTopologyName
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidData: (Microsoft.Offic...tSearchTopology:
SetSearchTopology) [Set-SPEnterpriseSearchTopology], InvalidTopologyExcept
ion
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Cmdlet.SetSearchT
opology

Troubleshooting Steps

In Services.msc and in Central Administration, verified the Search Host Controller Service is "Started" on all SharePoint servers in the Topology.

Restarted the Search Host Controller Service


Solution

The Search Host Controller Service was running under the identity of an Application Pool Account, which did not have the required permissions to establish the connection.

In Central Administration, Security, Configure Service Accounts, changed the Service Account assigned to the Search Host Controller Service, to the SharePoint Farm Account.  Ran the activation again, and it was successful.


References

Microsoft TechNet (2013).  Change the default search topology in SharePoint Server 2013.  Retrieved January 29, 2014 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj862356.aspx