adb kill-server not responding?

Question

In ADB, I am facing an error when I am trying to print the version with

padmakumar@padmakumar-desktop:~$ adb version
Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.29

but its showing below error

padmakumar@padmakumar-desktop:~$ adb devices
error: protocol fault (no status)

NOTE: adb kill-server is not working i.e it's not responding.

and in my Eclipse console I am getting this error:

Android Launch!
[2012-01-09 20:31:28 - Shopping List] The connection to adb is down, and a severe error has occured.
[2012-01-09 20:31:28 - Shopping List] You must restart adb and Eclipse.
[2012-01-09 20:31:28 - Shopping List] Please ensure that adb is correctly located at '/home/padmakumar/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb' and can be executed.

Answer 1

I also came across the same error when I was trying to install one app in emulator. You need not restart PC to overcome this. Just kill the server. if 'adb kill-server' is also not working, kill the process (adb.exe) through task manager. There you go!!

Answer 2

If zombie adb process is not the issue i.e. there's no adb.exe in the task-manager list, the problem is usually adb ports e.g. 5555, 5554, 5037 etc., being taken by other applications.

Solutions:

1. On all Windows: find the process taking one of those ports using netstat -bn and kill it from task-manager Ctrl+Shift+Esc is the shortcut.

2. On Windows 7 and 8: there's this new tool called Resource Monitor. It'll also allow you to find out the blocked port and blocking process under the network tab.

3. On Linux: the similar is done with netstat -pn. Feel free to use your grep foo as needed and kill the blocking process with kill or pkill.

4. Change Default ADB Port: Apparently default ADB port can be changed as described here by setting up an environmental variable before launching ADB. Give it shot. It'll allow more flexibility if you don't want to kill the blocking processes.