A DFSR propagation report logs the following error on a Windows Server 2008 domain controller: "Cannot open test file on the member The network path was not found."

Article ID: 976921 - View products that this article applies to.
Expand all | Collapse all

SYMPTOMS

When you generate a Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) propagation report by using the Distributed File System (DFS) Management snap-in or by using the DFSRAdmin command-line tool (Dfsradmin.exe), the following error appears in the report for some or all of the Windows Server 2008 domain controllers' SYSVOL share:
Error: Domain_name : cannot open test file on the member. The network path was not found.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

CAUSE

The path for the SYSVOL folder that is stored in Active Directory contains the following group of characters:
\\?\
When this character group appears in the path for the SYSVOL folder, the .NET manage code that is used in the DFSR administrative utilities cannot process the group correctly.

This issue does not affect Windows Server 2008 R2 domain controllers. Additionally, this issue does not affect Windows Server 2008 domain controllers where SYSVOL was migrated with Dfsrmig.exe. Files in SYSVOL will replicate without issue regardless of the domain controller’s operating system version.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

RESOLUTION

  1. Log on to a Windows Server 2008 domain controller as a domain administrator.
  2. Click Start
    Collapse this imageExpand this image
    Start button
    , type adsiedit.msc in the Start Search box, right-click adsiedit.msc in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator.

    Collapse this imageExpand this image
    User Access Control permission
    If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation
  3. In the Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI) Edit snap-in, expand the domain node.
  4. Locate one of the affected domain controllers' SYSVOL Subscription leaf containers. For example:
    CN=SYSVOL Subscription, CN=Domain System Volume, CN=DFSR-LocalSettings, CN=DC, OU=Domain Controllers, DC=Domain_name, DC=com
  5. Right-click the CN=SYSVOL Subscription object and then click Properties.
  6. Click the msDFSR-RootPath attribute and then click Edit.
  7. Delete the following characters from the path information:
    \\?\
  8. Repeat steps 3 to 6 for each affected domain controller.
  9. Close the ADSI Edit tool.
  10. Let DFSR active directory polling and active directory replication complete throughout the environment.
  11. Generate the DFSR propagation report. The report will now complete without errors.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

Properties

Article ID: 976921 - Last Review: October 27, 2009 - Revision: 1.0
APPLIES TO
  • Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, when used with:
    • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
    • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
    • Windows Server 2008 Standard
Keywords: 
kbdfs kbtshoot kbexpertiseinter kbsurveynew kbprb KB976921
Back to the top | Give Feedback

Give Feedback

 
Back to the topBack to the top