Error initializing default drive: 'Unable to find a default server with Active Directory Web Services running

Question

Hi ,

please advice on following error and i am running validation before start azure local.

Answer 1

Hi Rasitha Mudugama Hewage

Thank you for reaching out.

The warning “Unable to find a default server with Active Directory Web Services running” usually indicates that the Active Directory Web Services (ADWS) component is either not running or is not reachable from the node where the validation is being executed.

ADWS is required for Azure Stack HCI / Azure Local deployments to communicate with Active Directory.

Please review and perform the following steps to resolve the issue:

1. Verify ADWS Service on Domain Controllers:

• On each Domain Controller, open services.msc and confirm that the Active Directory Web Services service is running and set to Automatic.
• If it’s not running, try starting it manually. If the service fails to start, review the Event Viewer logs for specific errors

2.From the HCI node, run the following command to verify connectivity to the Domain Controller on port 9389:

Test-NetConnection <DomainControllerName> -Port 9389

If the connection fails (TcpTestSucceeded: False), review firewall rules, network security groups, and routing configurations that might block port 9389.

3.Ensure the user account executing the validation has the necessary permissions, particularly GenericAll on the relevant Organizational Units (OUs). Insufficient permissions can prevent the validation from recognizing ADWS services.

4.Disable IPv6 on all network interfaces and assign static IP addresses if applicable, as misconfigured IPv6 settings can impact communication.

5.Run the following command to ensure the domain name resolves correctly to your Domain Controllers:

nslookup <your-domain>

6.Run the below command to verify that at least one Domain Controller is ADWS-enabled:

Get-ADDomainController -Discover -Service ADWS

Once these steps are completed, re-run the validation. This should resolve the issue and allow you to proceed with Azure Local deployment.

Please find below documentations for reference:

• Azure Stack HCI Deployment Prerequisites
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2008-R2-and-2008/dd772723(v=ws.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN#communication-to-domain-controllers

Related threads discussed on this issue:

• Troubleshooting ADWS and Deployment
• https://theitbros.com/unable-to-find-a-default-server-with-active-directory-web-services-running/

Hope this helps! please let me know if you have any queries.