Cannot integrate Server Essentials Services with Office 365

Ishtiaq 71 Reputation points
2022-11-20T14:55:07.597+00:00

A new installation of Server 2016 standard with Server Essentials Experience Role installed.The Server is fully patched to date.
In Server Essentials Dashboard in HOME\Services TAB the Microsoft Cloud Services Integration does not populate.
262251-image.png

I believe this issue started for us in late Sepotember 2022.
It seems OnlineServicesConfigFile-GB.xml and OnlineServicesConfigFile.xml are not available for download. Please see logs below.

[1752] 221119.011750.2937: OnlineServicesConfigFile: downloading https://sbsdomains.blob.core.windows.net/azureintegration-2016rtm/OnlineServicesConfigFile-GB.xml
[1752] 221119.011750.7625: OnlineServicesConfigFile: Failed to download online services config file OnlineServicesConfigFile-GB.xml.
[1752] 221119.011750.7625: OnlineServicesConfigFile: downloading https://sbsdomains.blob.core.windows.net/azureintegration-2016rtm/OnlineServicesConfigFile.xml
[1752] 221119.011750.8718: OnlineServicesConfigFile: Failed to download online services config file.
[3420] 221119.011803.2938: O365ProviderBackend: Connect failed becaused System.TimeoutException: Timeout occurred waiting for connection to complete. Connection attempt is still in progress.

I tested both URL's in a browser and I get an error that the resource is not found.

<Error> <Code>ResourceNotFound</Code> <Message>The specified resource does not exist. RequestId:23a0f60e-501e-008e-72d4-fca758000000 Time:2022-11-20T11:36:41.6703595Z</Message> </Error>

Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
12,119 questions
Accepted answer
  1. The Office Maven 111 Reputation points
    2022-11-23T15:17:05.7+00:00

    This is the result of an error that's happening over on Microsoft's backend seeing as they have broken some of the online services download links, by (re)moving the XML files that they point to, and there's nothing much that anyone here can do about it I'm afraid. I've tried to inform Microsoft about the issue (on this forum), but they never acknowledged me.

    Basically what's happening is that the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Server\Data\Cloud folder is empty because the following links (where the Essentials source code goes to in order to download the XML files to fill that folder with) are broken (and hence the HOME -> Get Started -> SERVICES section of the server Dashboard won't populate):

    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=785361
    ExternalOnlineServicesUtils.cs
    OnlineServicesConfigFile.xml
    OnlineServicesConfigLanguageResourceFile.xml

    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=785361
    CloudServiceEnvironment.cs
    CloudServiceEnvironment.xml

    Until such time as Microsoft fixes those broken links, the online services features of Windows Server Essentials will not work.

    Unfortunately, Microsoft seems hell-bent on continuously breaking the online services features in Windows Server Essentials (I guess they don't care about their Essentials/SBS customers anymore, and would rather that they just move up to using their pricey Azure platform instead). Personally, I'd say that you should try and avoid using any of the online services in Essentials now seeing as Microsoft will most likely just keep on breaking them over and over again (and then taking many months to fix what they've broken each time). It's SUPER annoying!

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Ishtiaq 71 Reputation points
    2022-11-23T23:17:28.343+00:00

    @The Office Maven

    Thank you for your response and you're right, Microsoft have broken it, again!
    This also happened in June 0f last year for same/simmilar reasons. The password synch had also stopped working.The issue was not fixed until sometime in October 2021.

    The annoying thing is I have a ticket opened with Microsoft but 4 days later I still don't have a response.
    I've only received the intial confirmation that my question was successfully submitted to Microsoft Support with tracking number xxxxx.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Limitless Technology 43,931 Reputation points
    2022-11-23T15:56:56.51+00:00

    Hi. Thank you for your question and reaching out.

    You can manage your online accounts and Microsoft 365 services from the Windows Server Essentials Dashboard alongside your on-premises resources when you link your Windows Server Essentials server with Microsoft 365. In this article, learn the advantages of integrating your server with Microsoft 365. Additionally, you'll discover how to set up, maintain, and resolve issues with your Microsoft 365 integration.

    For more information, please see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/manage/manage-office-365-in-windows-server-essentials

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you.

    0 comments
  3. AJ @ Olive Technology 1 Reputation point
    2023-01-09T17:06:07.993+00:00

    Any updates on this. Still broken for me as well. Thank you.

    0 comments
  4. AJ @ Olive Technology 1 Reputation point
    2023-01-16T00:21:31.2133333+00:00

    @Microsoft Any updates on this. Seems the first of 2 links is broken again. Second link referenced earlier this year is working.

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