SMS: SMS Service Manager Returns Error Message When Communicating with the Specified SMS Site Server (268894)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP1

This article was previously published under Q268894

SYMPTOMS

Systems Management Server (SMS) Service Manager may generate the following error message if the currently logged-on user is a member of many domain local groups:

Error communicating with the specified SMS Site Server

CAUSE

SMS Service Manager uses a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provider that is located on the site server to which the Service Manager console connects. The WMI provider is responsible (among other things) for verifying that the user who is running the Service Manager console is an administrator. If the user is a member many domain local or computer local groups, the check for Administrator local group membership may not succeed.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Systems Management Server version 2.0. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

236325 How to Obtain the Latest Systems Management Server 2.0 Service Pack

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, reduce the number of local groups of which the user is directly or indirectly a member. You can do this to verify that you are experiencing the problem that is described in this article.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	5/23/2003
Keywords:	kbBug kbfix kbQFE KB268894