Unable to Find a Default Server with Active Directory Web Services Running

Unable to find a default server with active directory web services

In some cases you may see the following error when running PowerShell scripts on Active Directory:

PS C:\> Get-ADUser tycho.brahe
Get-ADUser : Unable to find a default server with Active Directory Web Services running.
At line:1 char:1
+ Get-ADUser tycho.brahe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ResourceUnavailable: (tycho.brahe:ADUser) [Get-ADUser], ADServerDownException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ActiveDirectoryServer:1355,Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.Management.Commands.GetADUser

The error message indicates that the Active Directory Web Services service is not running or accessible.

If you’re not running the script from a domain controller, start by checking if you have connectivity with your Active Directory domain. DNS name resolution is often the cause of connectivity issues.

If you’re currently on a domain controller, check if the Active Directory Web Service is running.

Use the following PowerShell command:

PS C:\> (Get-Service ADWS).Status
Stopped

Or open up the services management console and check the status of the service:

AD Web Services service

If the service is stopped you can try to start it.

If the service doesn’t start you may need to investigate this further:

AD Web Services service unable to start

The service has many dependencies, one of them being the .Net Framework (get the .Net Framework repair tool here).

Investigate your Windows application event log for further information that will help you in troubleshooting this issue.

How to Manage Office 365 from Active Directory

Easy365Manager is a snap-in to AD Users & Computers that allows you to manage Office 365 mailboxes and licenses as part of your standard AD management.

Create an Office 365 mailbox using Easy365Manager
Assigning an Office 365 license in AD user properties

Easy365Manager extends user properties with two new tabs, so you no longer have to switch between multiple web consoles to perform daily management:

Easy365Manager Office 365 user properties
User properties, "Office 365" tab
Easy365Manager user properties, Office 365 mailbox management inside Active Directory
User properties, "Mailbox tab"

With Easy365Manager, you can perform all daily tasks from AD Users & Computers:

  • Assign Office 365 licenses
  • Manage shared mailbox delegation
  • Configure calendar permissions
  • Configure proxyAddresses (with uniqueness and format checking)
  • Replicate Azure AD Connect

And a lot more. See the complete feature list here. 

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