Active Directory Domain Controller For The Domain Could Not Be Contacted (Server - Server or Server - PC)

 World of information technology is full of troubles and this is very familiar to IT or Network professionals. We came across many issues every now and then. It is very likely that we come across problems that we face for the very first time and had no interaction before. I don't have a lot of time to organize this blog but I have kept the information very concise and to the point. This solution will work fine for both Server to Server or Server to PC communication error.

I have two different servers, one for the production and one for the test environment. Both servers are running on the same domain. My production server is the active directory domain controller. For those how don't know the purpose of the active directory domain controller, it is the role configured on the server that you are using to work as main server for PC's or other servers that are working in your network as clients.

One day when my users were trying to login to the test server using remote desktop connection or simply saying RDP , they were getting error message "The domain either does not exist or cannot be contacted".

In order to resolve this I tried to figure it out what was going wrong. So you should also check below important things so that issue can be resolved.

First of all make sure that physical connectivity to the server you are trying to connect is present.  For this ensure that LAN cable is properly plugged in to your server and the network switch.

If physical connectivity is working fine that proceed with below instructions.

Now check the properties of your network connection in your server similar to what we do in our PC's or Laptops. Go to your network connection by Right Clicking on the network connection icon on below right side of your desktop screen. Then click Open Network & Sharing Center. Once you have done that a new window will popup where all of your network connections are visible. Now right click the network connection which you want to troubleshoot. After right click, click Properties.

Now select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties. Now check the DNS server settings. Here the IP address in DNS server should be of the server which is your Production server. (I am not posting pictures here for the security reason but you can easily do it if you read my instructions carefully).

Once you have done all this and still the issue is not resolved than proceed as below.

On the server you are trying to connect, go to This PC and right click. Then select properties. In the window that just opened see on the right side you will find Computer name, domain and workgroup settings. Click change settings 

Now another window will pop-up. Here click Change under the tab of Computer Name.

Now you will see a new window as below

Now select Workgroup. Once you select work group Type Workgroup in the field below and click OK. Remember that you will need your local admin password and will be asked once you click OK.

By doing above step your server will be removed from domain. Now repeat above steps and select Domain rather than Workgroup and type Domain of your network and authenticate it with the domain admin account and password. By doing so your server will be joined to domain again. If your production server is not responding than you will not be able to join Domain. If you are able to join domain then login with Remote Desktop Connection and see if the problem is resolved. If not, follow below steps.

If you are still receiving error, go to production server and click Server Manager

Now click Tools and select Services from the drop down list.

Locate DNS Server from the list of services

 

Right DNS Server and click Restart.

Now go back to the test server again and try to join the domain again. Hopefully the issue is resolved now.

Now go to any PC or Laptop where you want to test Remote Desktop Connection. Issue must be resolved now.

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Thanks

Aitizaz Asghar