IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules (IKEEXT) Service Defaults in Windows 7
The IKEEXT service hosts the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) and Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP) keying modules. These keying modules are used for authentication and key exchange in Internet Protocol security (IPsec). Stopping or disabling the IKEEXT service will disable IKE and AuthIP key exchange with peer computers. IPsec is typically configured to use IKE or AuthIP; therefore, stopping or disabling the IKEEXT service might result in an IPsec failure and might compromise the security of the system. It is strongly recommended that you have the IKEEXT service running.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Manual |
| Display name: | IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules |
| Service name: | IKEEXT |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs |
| File: | %SystemRoot%\System32\ikeext.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IKEEXT |
| Privileges: |
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Default Behavior
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules is a Win32 service. In Windows 7 it won't be started if the user doesn't start it. When the IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules service is started, it is running as LocalSystem in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other system components, such as drivers and services, may run in the same process. If IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules fails to start, Windows 7 attempts to write the failure details into Event Log. Then Windows 7 startup should proceed and the user should be notified that the IKEEXT service is not running because of the error.
Dependencies
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules is unable to start, if the Base Filtering Engine service is stopped or disabled.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config IKEEXT start= demand
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The IKEEXT service is using the ikeext.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 7 installation media.