The Microsoft Exchange Frontend Transport service terminated unexpectedly.  It has done this 1 time(s).  The following corrective action will be taken in 5000 milliseconds: Restart the service.

Microsoft Exchange couldn't start transport agents. The Microsoft Exchange Transport service will be stopped. Exception details: Invalid agent configuration in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Shared\fetagents.config'. : Microsoft.Exchange.Data.ExchangeConfigurationException: Invalid agent configuration in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Shared\fetagents.config'. ---> System.Xml.XmlException: Root element is missing.
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Compliance.Xml.SafeXmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.LoadPublicAgents(String filePath, List`1& publicAgents)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.LoadPublicAgents(String filePath, List`1& publicAgents)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.Load(String filePath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExRuntime.Initialize(String configFile, String agentGroup, ProcessTransportRole processTransportRole, String installPath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Extensibility.AgentComponent.Load()

Hello Bhupen,

Please login to Exchange Management Shell & run the following command:

Get-TransportAgent | FL

Please copy the output over here, so that I can check which transport agents are associated with Exchange Server.

Regards,

Atul J. Dolas

[PS] C:\Windows\system32>Get-TransportAgent | FL


RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 1
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.ConnectionFiltering.ConnectionFilteringAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\Agents\Hygiene\Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Hygiene.dll
Identity              : Connection Filtering Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 2
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.SenderId.SenderIdAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\Agents\Hygiene\Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Hygiene.dll
Identity              : Sender Id Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 3
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.ProtocolFilter.SenderFilterAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\Agents\Hygiene\Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Hygiene.dll
Identity              : Sender Filter Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 4
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.ProtocolFilter.RecipientFilterAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\Agents\Hygiene\Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Hygiene.dll
Identity              : Recipient Filter Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 5
TransportAgentFactory : Antigen.AntigenRoutingAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\agents\FSEAgent\Bin\FSEAgent_8.0.685.dll
Identity              : FSE Routing Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 6
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.FSS.AntiSpam.ConnectionFiltering.ConnectionFilteringAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\agents\FSEAgent\Bin\Microsoft.FSS.AntiSpam.dll
Identity              : FSE Connection Filtering Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 7
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.FSS.AntiSpam.ContentFilter.ContentFilterAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V14\TransportRoles\agents\FSEAgent\Bin\Microsoft.FSS.AntiSpam.dll
Identity              : FSE Content Filter Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 8
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.MessagingPolicies.TransportRuleAgent.TransportRuleAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\agents\Rule\Microsoft.Exchange.Me
                        ssagingPolicies.TransportRuleAgent.dll
Identity              : Transport Rule Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 9
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Malware.MalwareAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V15\TransportRoles\agents\Antimalware\Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Malware.dll
Identity              : Malware Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 10
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.TextMessaging.MobileDriver.TextMessagingRoutingAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\bin\Microsoft.Exchange.MobileDriver.dll
Identity              : Text Messaging Routing Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : 7b9870ef-b8e3-480b-a827-6db52ff9dcd3
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 11
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.TextMessaging.MobileDriver.TextMessagingDeliveryAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\bin\Microsoft.Exchange.MobileDriver.dll
Identity              : Text Messaging Delivery Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New



[PS] C:\Windows\system32>

Hello Bhupen,

Thank you for the information. Looking at the above logs, it appears that there are few third-party agents associated with your Transport service. I would request you to please disable the Transport agents & then check if you are able to start the MSExchangeTransport service. 

Disable-TransportAgent "Malware Agent" -TransportService Hub

Above example will help to disable ONE agent. Once you disable this try to start the Transport service. If you come across the same issue then disable the other 3rd party agents individually & check.

Please let me know if performing the above steps does not resolve the issue with Transport service.

Regards,

Atul J. Dolas

Hello Mr.Atul

As per your reply ,i have run that  "Disable-TransportAgent "Malware Agent" -TransportService Hub " and other agents which installed for exchange 2013 .but same "Microsoft Exchange Frontend Transport service" not starting.

Regards

Bhupen

FYI

[PS] C:\Windows\system32>Get-TransportAgent | FL

RunspaceId            : a86027d1-7c09-4039-8d37-c1dab6986221
Enabled               : True
Priority              : 1
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.MessagingPolicies.TransportRuleAgent.TransportRuleAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\agents\Rule\Microsoft.Exchange.Me
                        ssagingPolicies.TransportRuleAgent.dll
Identity              : Transport Rule Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

RunspaceId            : a86027d1-7c09-4039-8d37-c1dab6986221
Enabled               : False
Priority              : 2
TransportAgentFactory : Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Malware.MalwareAgentFactory
AssemblyPath          : C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange
                        Server\V15\TransportRoles\agents\Antimalware\Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Agent.Malware.dll
Identity              : Malware Agent
IsValid               : True
ObjectState           : New

[PS] C:\Windows\system32>

Still same error  "Microsoft Exchange Frontend Transport service" not starting.

Event Error:

Event ID:7001

The service will be stopped. Reason: Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.TransportComponentLoadFailedException: Loading of component 'SmtpReceiveAgents' failed. ---> Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.TransportComponentLoadFailedException: The agent component failed to load. ---> Microsoft.Exchange.Data.ExchangeConfigurationException: Invalid agent configuration in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Shared\fetagents.config'. ---> System.Xml.XmlException: Root element is missing.
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Compliance.Xml.SafeXmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.LoadPublicAgents(String filePath, List`1& publicAgents)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.LoadPublicAgents(String filePath, List`1& publicAgents)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.Load(String filePath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExRuntime.Initialize(String configFile, String agentGroup, ProcessTransportRole processTransportRole, String installPath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Extensibility.AgentComponent.Load()
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Extensibility.AgentComponent.Load()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Directory.ADNotificationAdapter.RunADOperation(ADOperation adOperation, Int32 retryCount)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Directory.ADNotificationAdapter.TryRunADOperation(ADOperation adOperation, Int32 retryCount)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.SequentialTransportComponent.Load()
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.SequentialTransportComponent.Load()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Components.Activate()

Event ID 16023
Microsoft Exchange couldn't start transport agents. The Microsoft Exchange Transport service will be stopped. Exception details: Invalid agent configuration in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Shared\fetagents.config'. : Microsoft.Exchange.Data.ExchangeConfigurationException: Invalid agent configuration in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Shared\fetagents.config'. ---> System.Xml.XmlException: Root element is missing.
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Compliance.Xml.SafeXmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.LoadPublicAgents(String filePath, List`1& publicAgents)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.LoadPublicAgents(String filePath, List`1& publicAgents)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExConfiguration.Load(String filePath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Transport.Internal.MExRuntime.MExRuntime.Initialize(String configFile, String agentGroup, ProcessTransportRole processTransportRole, String installPath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Transport.Extensibility.AgentComponent.Load()

Regards

Bhupen

Finally i have install exchange 2013 on testing server and copy "fetagents.config" to Live ClientAccess server folder 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\TransportRoles\Shared\.

Issue has resolved.

Regards

Bhupen