We set up a Windows Server 2012 R2 server to be migrated from a Windows Server 2008. The migration process moved over Active Directory, DNS, and other objects successfully, however, running the "Configure Windows Server Essentials" wizard will
fail with an unknown error. After some digging through the logs, we demoted the new server and re-ran the setup which completed successfully and we were able to enter the Dashboard to continue the setup process.
Getting the workstations to connect through the connect wizard gives us an error stating that either the trust relationship, or the time is off-sync with the server. The time is not off-sync.
So, thinking it was most likely the Windows Server Essentials Experience Role, I removed it and re-added it only to be back where I started with the Configuration wizard throwing errors because it doesn't like being on a domain controller.
Under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Server\Logs I was able to find these errors being thrown:
[3332] 141115.210552.3357: DeploymentService: No answer file found. Keep waiting.
[3340] 141115.210557.3514: DeploymentService: No answer file found. Keep waiting.
[3436] 141115.210602.3556: DeploymentService: No answer file found. Keep waiting.
In a KB article it mentioned adding the ServerAdmin$ and MediaAdmin$ accounts to the "Log on as service" default domain controller policy, which has been done, but when we expand "Policies" we're met with this error:
"Resource '$(string.VerMgmtAuditModeEnable)' referenced in attribute displayName could not be found. File C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\inetres.admx, line 1495, column 249"
We're able to click "OK" to go past it and edit the policies, but I'm not exactly sure if this error is associated with the mayhem of the configuration wizard.
This server lives in a 5 - 7 workstation and the only roles that are installed at the moment are: Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, Windows Deployment Services and Windows Server Essentials Experience.
With these errors we cannot open the dashboard, when we demoted the Windows 2012 server then ran the config it succeeded, but the workstations would not connect to the server using the http://server/connect wizard method, thus not showing up in the devices tab, thus not being about to set up remote access properly.