You receive an "unexpected error occurred" error message when you try to access resources on a Windows-based network from your Macintosh computer

When you use an Apple Macintosh computer that is running Mac OS X 10.2.x or later on a Microsoft Windows-based network, and you try to connect to local network resources, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:When you try to join an Apple Macintosh computer that is running Mac OS X 10.2.x or later to a domain by using the Active Directory plug-in for Directory Access, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following: You receive these error messages when the Windows domain name uses the .local extension, and you try to connect to resources by using a fully qualified domain name. You can still connect to local or external network resources by using their IP addresses. Additionally, when you try to join an Apple Macintosh computer that is running Mac OS X 10.2.x or later to a domain by using the Active Directory plug-in for Directory Access, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

This problem occurs because by default, Mac OS X treats any fully qualified domain name that uses the .local extension as a Rendezvous host. Rendezvous is an Apple networking technology.

To resolve this problem, configure Mac OS X to look up domain names that use the .local extension by using standard Domain Name System (DNS) resolution in addition to Rendezvous. To do this, use the procedure that is mentioned in the "107800: Mac OS X 10.3: How to Look Up '.local' Hostnames via Both Rendezvous and Standard DNS" AppleCare Support article. To view this article, visit the following Apple Web site:Note The procedure that is mentioned in this article also applies to Mac OS X Jaguar (10.2.x).

Important The procedure that this article describes permits you to connect to resources on a .local domain by using the FQDN. However, for the Active Directory plug-in to work with a .local domain, you must update Mac OS X 10.3.2 or earlier to Mac OS X 10.3.3 or later.

For more information about updating to the latest version of Mac OS X, visit the following Apple Web site:

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

When you plan your network, avoid assigning your domain a name that uses the .local extension.

For more information and support for this problem, visit the following Apple Web site:For more information about the Multicast DNS feature of Rendezvous, visit the following Apple Web site:For more information about Multicast DNS, visit the following Multicast DNS Web site:For information about how to contact the third-party companies mentioned in this article, visit the following Microsoft Web site: