Question:

How can I troubleshoot the session start error in SEB?

I am getting a session start error when I attempt to launch the safe exam browser. The error message says: “SEB failed to start a new session! Please consult the log files for more information”. Where can I find the log files and what should I look for in them?

Answer:

Safe Exam Browser (SEB) is a software that allows students to take online exams in a secure and controlled environment. However, sometimes SEB may encounter errors that prevent it from starting or running properly. One of these errors is the session start error, which occurs when SEB fails to initiate a new session for the exam. This error may be caused by various factors, such as incorrect settings, incompatible software, or network issues.

If you are facing the session start error in SEB, here are some steps that you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem:

• Check the log files: The first thing that you should do is to consult the log files that SEB generates when it encounters an error. The log files contain detailed information about the error, such as the error code, the error message, the time and date of the error, and the possible causes and solutions. The log files are usually located in the following folders, depending on your operating system:
• Windows: `C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\SafeExamBrowser\Logs`
• Mac: `~/Library/Logs/Safe Exam Browser`
• Linux: `/var/log/safe-exam-browser`

You can open the log files with any text editor, such as Notepad, TextEdit, or Gedit. Look for the entries that correspond to the session start error and try to identify the root cause of the problem. For example, if the error message says that SEB could not connect to the exam server, it may indicate a network issue. If the error message says that SEB could not load the exam settings, it may indicate a configuration issue.

• Check the exam settings: The next thing that you should do is to check the exam settings that you are using to launch SEB. The exam settings are usually provided by your instructor or institution in the form of a configuration file (.seb) or a URL. The exam settings specify the parameters and restrictions that SEB applies to the exam session, such as the exam URL, the browser options, the security features, and the permitted applications. If the exam settings are incorrect, outdated, or incompatible with your system, SEB may fail to start a new session.

To check the exam settings, you can use the SEB Config Tool, which is a separate application that comes with the SEB installation. The SEB Config Tool allows you to open, edit, and test the exam settings before launching SEB. You can access the SEB Config Tool from the Start menu (Windows), the Applications folder (Mac), or the command line (Linux). To open the exam settings, you can either drag and drop the configuration file (.seb) onto the SEB Config Tool icon, or use the File > Open menu option and select the configuration file (.seb) or enter the URL. To test the exam settings, you can use the File > Test Settings menu option, which will launch SEB with the current exam settings and display a test page. If the test page loads successfully, it means that the exam settings are valid and compatible with your system. If the test page fails to load or shows an error, it means that the exam settings are invalid or incompatible with your system. If you find any problems with the exam settings, you should contact your instructor or institution and ask them to provide you with the correct and updated exam settings. Alternatively, you can try to fix the exam settings yourself by using the SEB Config Tool to edit the parameters and restrictions that may be causing the error. For example, if the error is related to the network, you can try to change the proxy settings or the network protocol. If the error is related to the browser, you can try to change the browser engine or the user agent. If the error is related to the security, you can try to change the kiosk mode or the process watchdog. However, you should be careful when editing the exam settings, as some changes may violate the exam rules or compromise the exam security.

• Check the system compatibility: The last thing that you should do is to check the system compatibility between SEB and your device. SEB requires certain system requirements and permissions to run properly. If your device does not meet the system requirements or does not grant the necessary permissions to SEB, SEB may fail to start a new session.

To check the system compatibility, you should first make sure that you are using the latest version of SEB that is compatible with your operating system. You can download the latest version of SEB from the official website: https://safeexambrowser.org/download_en.html. You should also make sure that your operating system is up to date and that you have installed all the required updates and patches. You can check for updates and patches from the system settings or the update manager of your device. Next, you should make sure that you have granted the necessary permissions to SEB to access and control your device. SEB may require permissions to access the internet, the webcam, the microphone, the keyboard, the mouse, the clipboard, the screen, the files, and the processes. You can check and modify the permissions from the system settings or the security manager of your device. You should also make sure that you have disabled or closed any software or applications that may interfere with SEB, such as antivirus, firewall, VPN, screen recorder, screen saver, or other browsers. You can check and terminate the running processes from the task manager or the activity monitor of your device. Finally, you should make sure that you have followed the instructions and recommendations that your instructor or institution has provided for taking the exam with SEB. For example, you may need to restart your device before launching SEB, or you may need to connect your device to a power source and a stable internet connection. You may also need to adjust the screen resolution, the sound volume, or the brightness of your device. You should also avoid any actions that may trigger the session start error, such as switching to another application, minimizing or resizing the SEB window, or unplugging the network cable. —

I

hope this article helps you to troubleshoot the session start error in SEB. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. 😊