It is a new standalone vCD 9.7.0.4 instance with SQLExpress 2017 database. I am aware SQL Express is unsupported however I am using it for development purpose. vCD service is running and I could see the application started successfully from cell.log. Attached the log bundle.

cell.log:

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Application Initialization: ‘com.vmware.vcloud.common.core’ 95% complete. Subsystem ‘com.vmware.vcloud.jax-rs-servlet’ started

Application Initialization: ‘com.vmware.vcloud.common.core’ 100% complete. Subsystem ‘com.vmware.vcloud.ui-vcloud-webapp’ started

Application Initialization: ‘com.vmware.vcloud.common.core’ complete.

Successfully handled all queued events.

Successfully verified transfer spooling area: /opt/vmware/vcloud-director/data/transfer

Cell startup completed in 0m 48s

# service vmware-vcd status

vmware-vcd-watchdog is running

vmware-vcd-cell is running