AEM 6.3 Start Up Failure with 'AuthenticationSupport service missing. Cannot authenticate request' and org.apache.sling.settings-1.3.8.jar bundle error
I'm having a problem starting up AEM 6.3 instance we haven't used for a while in order to restore some assets backups. It is possible the instance had been shut down improperly due to server sudden shutdown. After attempted startup I'm getting the familiar errors:
08.09.2021 16:33:04.039 *ERROR* [qtp541431543-6780] org.apache.sling.engine.impl.SlingHttpContext handleSecurity: AuthenticationSupport service missing. Cannot authenticate request.
08.09.2021 16:33:04.039 *ERROR* [qtp541431543-6780] org.apache.sling.engine.impl.SlingHttpContext handleSecurity: Possible reason is missing Repository service. Check AuthenticationSupport dependencies.
After deleting the index folders in repository/index with no improvement I noticed the following startup error:
08.09.2021 12:26:04.967 *ERROR* [FelixStartLevel] ERROR: Bundle '18' Error starting slinginstall:F:\aem6.3\author\crx-quickstart\launchpad\startup\1\org.apache.sling.settings-1.3.8.jar (java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to read from options data file.)
java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to read from options data file.
at org.apache.sling.settings.impl.SlingSettingsServiceImpl.readOptions(SlingSettingsServiceImpl.java:250)
at org.apache.sling.settings.impl.SlingSettingsServiceImpl.setupRunModes(SlingSettingsServiceImpl.java:211)
at org.apache.sling.settings.impl.SlingSettingsServiceImpl.<init>(SlingSettingsServiceImpl.java:91)
at org.apache.sling.settings.impl.ServicesListener.<init>(ServicesListener.java:58)
at org.apache.sling.settings.impl.Activator.start(Activator.java:38)
at org.apache.felix.framework.util.SecureAction.startActivator(SecureAction.java:697)
at org.apache.felix.framework.Felix.activateBundle(Felix.java:2227)
at org.apache.felix.framework.Felix.startBundle(Felix.java:2145)
at org.apache.felix.framework.Felix.setActiveStartLevel(Felix.java:1372)
at org.apache.felix.framework.FrameworkStartLevelImpl.run(FrameworkStartLevelImpl.java:308)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.io.StreamCorruptedException: invalid stream header: 00000000
at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readStreamHeader(Unknown Source)
at java.io.ObjectInputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.sling.settings.impl.SlingSettingsServiceImpl.readOptions(SlingSettingsServiceImpl.java:246)
... 10 more
My suspicion was an issue with the sling.properties file but modifying or replacing the file did not help. I'm also not able to login to the Felix console /system/console/ to check for any inactive bundles. I also have error with bundle acs-aem-commons-bundle-3.17.0 on startup.
Can you please help me identify possible reason for the failed startup or for the bundle error that might be the reason.
Thank you!
Bobby