2179550 - Troubleshooting steps for wapsmod.ms.MsAttachFailed error: Connect to message server fails during installation or system copy

• During a System Copy or new system installation sapinst fails to start an instance due to an issue in the connection to the message server.
  The error message "Connect to message server failed" is displayed.
  
  
• This can happen in different steps, but most commonly this happens during the Install Instance Basics phase and in the sapinst_dev.log we have messages similar to the following:

ERROR 2015-06-10 16:25:11.605 [csistepexecute.cpp:1187]
FCO-00011 The step startASCSInstance with step key |NW_ABAP_OneHost|ind|ind|ind|ind|0|0|NW_Onehost_System|ind|ind|ind|ind|onehost|0|NW_CI_Instance|ind|ind|ind|ind|ci|0|startASCSInstance was executed with status ERROR ( Last error 
reported by the step: Instance <SID>/ASCS<nn> [PARTIAL] did not start after 5:10 minutes. Giving up.).

• Looking further in the sapinst_dev.log file we also see the below message:

WException thrown: nw.msConnectException:
An exception occurred while connecting to the message server instance <SID>/ASCS<nn> on host <hostname>, port 39<nn>. DIAGNOSIS: The original exception was: wapsmod.ms.MsAttachFailed:
Connect to message server (<hostname>/<port>) failed: MSENILAYER..<br>SOLUTION: Make sure that the message server is started.

• Operating system independent
• Database independent

instance basis installation, SCS, ASCS, message server, network, niping, connection broken, NiTClientLoop, sapinst, SWPM, software provisining manager, error occurred while processing option, instance did not start after, giving  up startASCSInstance setMessageIdOfExceptionMessage, nw.progress.waitingForStartFailed, ESAPinstMsgException , KBA , BC-CST-MS , Message Service , BC-INS , Installation Tools (SAP Note 1669327) , BC-INS-MIG , OS/DB Migrations with SWPM and DB refresh , BC-INS-NT , SAP Netweaver based Solutions on Windows , BC-INS-UNX , Installation Unix , BC-INS-FWK , sapinst, slcb, elmbridge, elm replication service , How To