You receive an "access is denied" error message on a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller when you try to replicate the Active Directory directory service

Symptoms

When you try to replicate the Active Directory directory service to a domain controller that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or an x64-based version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003, you receive the following error message on the destination domain controller:

Cause

This problem occurs when the value of the RestrictRemoteClients registry entry is 2.

Windows Server 2003 SP1 and x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 read remote procedure call (RPC) settings from this entry. If the entry has a value of 2, RPC traffic must be authenticated. Therefore, Active Directory replication does not succeed. Other RPC services on the domain controller may also be affected.

Resolution

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, enable port 135 on Windows Firewall, and then use one of the following methods:

• Set the value of the RestrictRemoteClients registry entry to 0 or 1.

• Disable the Restrictions for Unauthenticated RPC Clients Group Policy object.

To do this, follow these steps.

Note By default, port 135 is blocked in Windows Server 2003 SP1 and in x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003.

1. Click Start, click Run, type firewall.cpl, and then click
   OK.

2. Click the Exceptions tab, and then click
   Add Port.

3. In the Name box, type a name for the port.
   
   For example, type TCP 135.

4. In the Port number box, type
   135.

5. Click TCP, and then click
   OK.
   
   The new port appears on the
   Exceptions tab.

6. Click to select the check box next to the new port, and then click OK.

7. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click
   OK.

8. Use one of the following methods:
   

   • Set the value of the RestrictRemoteClients registry entry to 0 or 1. To do this, follow these steps:
     

     1. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Rpc

     2. In the right pane, click the RestrictRemoteClients entry.
        
        Note If this entry does not exist, follow these steps:
        

        1. On the Edit menu, point to
           New, and then click DWORD Value.

        2. Type
           RestrictRemoteClients, and then press ENTER.

     3. On the Edit menu, click
        Modify.

     4. In the Value data box, type
        0 or 1, and then click
        OK.

     5. Quit Registry Editor.

   • Use Group Policy Object Editor to disable the Restrictions for Unauthenticated RPC Clients Group Policy object. To do this, follow these steps:
     

     1. Click Start, click
        Run, type gpedit.msc, and then click
        OK.

     2. In the console tree, double-click Computer Configuration, double-click Administrative Templates, double-click System, and then click Remote Procedure Call.

     3. Double-click Restrictions for Unauthenticated RPC clients, click Disable, and then click OK.

     4. Quit Group Policy Object Editor.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

More Information

For additional information about the RestrictRemoteClients registry entry, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/209d02c4-877c-4128-8e22-30bcd4aae6d3.aspx