[azure devops] AVPIdentity: AppleVirtualPlatformHostKey.mm:234: Assert: platformExpert, value: 0

[jeromelaban]

Description

When starting the iOS simulators on macos-15, the following assertion happens:

AVPIdentity: AppleVirtualPlatformHostKey.mm:234: Assert: platformExpert,  value: 0
AVPIdentity: AppleVirtualPlatformHostKey.mm:234: Failed to get AppleVirtualPlatformARMPE service.

The message shows up as stdout, "polluting" machine readable outputs like simctl.

This is azure devops specific, this does not happen on github actions with macos-15.

Related to #10918

Platforms affected

• Azure DevOps
• GitHub Actions - Standard Runners
• GitHub Actions - Larger Runners

Runner images affected

• Ubuntu 20.04
• Ubuntu 22.04
• Ubuntu 24.04
• macOS 12
• macOS 13
• macOS 13 Arm64
• macOS 14
• macOS 14 Arm64
• macOS 15
• macOS 15 Arm64
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022

Image version and build link

20241106.316

Is it regression?

Not for this image, but compared to other images, yes.

Expected behavior

No assertions in the log

Actual behavior

Many messages like this one:

AVPIdentity: AppleVirtualPlatformHostKey.mm:234: Assert: platformExpert,  value: 0
AVPIdentity: AppleVirtualPlatformHostKey.mm:234: Failed to get AppleVirtualPlatformARMPE service.

Repro steps

Run the following pipeline:

pool:
  vmImage: 'windows-2022'

trigger:
  - main

stages:
- stage: Setup
  jobs:
  - job: Pipeline_Validations

    pool:
      vmImage: 'macos-15'

    steps:
    - checkout: self
      clean: 'true'
      fetchDepth: 0

    - bash: |
        /bin/bash -c "sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode_16.app/Contents/Developer"
  
        echo "Listing iOS simulators"
        xcrun simctl list devices --json
  
        export SIMULATOR_VERSION="com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimRuntime.iOS-18-1"
        export SIMULATOR_NAME="iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)"
  
        export UITEST_IOSDEVICE_ID=`xcrun simctl list -j | jq -r --arg sim "$SIMULATOR_VERSION" --arg name "$SIMULATOR_NAME" '.devices[$sim] | .[] | select(.name==$name) | .udid'`
        xcrun simctl boot $UITEST_IOSDEVICE_ID
  
        sleep 300
      name: Run

[susmitamane]

@jeromelaban We will look into the issue and keep you posted with updates.

[topi-identio]

We noticed the same issue happening in our e2e pipeline starting yesterday with macOS-15 as well. It happens with both iOS 18.0 and 18.1 Simulators.

[albertoAround]

Same problem here. Any news? It's kinda blocking

[examplecodecn]

+1

[sureshe456]

Hi All, We are still investigating the issue. Will keep you posted with updates soon.

[sanket492]

Observed this issue today and all our build and automation pipelines are failing. @sureshe456 @susmitamane please fix this issue.

[albertoAround]

Is there an ETA? We're in serious troubles and we're starting to consider rolling back to physical device for building @sureshe456 @susmitamane

[sureshe456]

Hi All, We are still checking on it. will be posted any updates.

[sureshe456]

Hi @jeromelaban,
Based on the analysis, the macos-15-large (macos-15) is based on an AMD64 processor, while the macos-15-xlarge (macos-15-arm64) is based on an ARM64 processor. The AppleVirtualPlatformARMPE service is specifically designed for Apple Silicon (ARM-based) processors, such as the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M2, and later chips. It is not compatible with AMD64 (x86_64) processors.
Therefore, when you start iOS simulators on macos-15 (AMD64 processor), then AppleVirtualPlatformARMPE service will be inaccessible. However, this service will be accessible on the macos-15-xlarge (macos-15-arm64) image.

[albertoAround]

So what kind of image do we have to type? I tried macos-15-arm64 and macos-15-xlarge but I received for both the same error

"No config name or imagelabel provided in request" @sureshe456

[sureshe456]

For macOS 15 Arm64: Please try with this macos-15.
FYI...

[albertoAround]

We're working on Azure hosted images. So here are the ones that we can pick https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/agents/hosted?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml

There is no macos-15-large or xlarge. @sureshe456

[jeromelaban]

Therefore, when you start iOS simulators on macos-15 (AMD64 processor), then AppleVirtualPlatformARMPE service will be inaccessible. However, this service will be accessible on the macos-15-xlarge (macos-15-arm64) image.

This could make sense, however, even selecting iPad (10th generation) does not work.

Also, regardless of the selected emulator, even running xcrun simctl list devices --json will emit the messages.

Furthermore, as noted by others in the thread, the images you mention are not on azure devops, only GHA.

[topi-identio]

The Simulators worked fine the day before this issue was posted. What changed? Did something update?