"RPC Server Is Unavailable" Error Message Occurs When You Configure an External Trust (294992)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q294992

SYMPTOMS

When you create an external trust between a Windows NT 4.0 domain and a Windows 2000 domain, if you add the Windows NT 4.0 domain to the Domains that trust this domain box on the Trusts tab in the Windows 2000 domain properties, the following error message is displayed in the Active Directory Domains and Trusts snap-in:
The RPC Server is unavailable.
If you run the net view \\windowsnt4pdc command on the Windows 2000 domain controller, (where windowsnt4pdc is the NetBIOS name of the Windows NT 4.0 primary domain controller [PDC]), you may receive the following error message:
System Error 64 has occurred.
The specified network name is no longer available.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if Server Message Block (SMB) Signing is enabled on the PDC of the Windows NT 4.0 domain.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, use either of the following methods:
  • Disable SMB signing on the Windows NT 4.0 PDC.

    -or-
  • Before you enable the trust on the Windows 2000 domain controller, run the following command in Windows 2000 Server, and then provide the correct password for the account: "net use \\windowsnt4pdc\ipc$ /u:windowsNT4domain\administrator *"

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about SMB Signing in Windows NT 4.0, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

161372 How to Enable SMB Signing in Windows NT

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/18/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB294992
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