Active Directory certificate auto-enrollment is a convenient feature for domain-joined Windows computers. It allows them to request and install certificates automatically without manual administration. However, clients may encounter issues during enrollment and fail with obscure error codes.
One such error is the 0x8007054b code for event ID 15 in the logs. The accompanying message indicates that the computer could not communicate with Active Directory to enroll its certificate. Clients can experience authentication failures for secured services and applications without a valid machine certificate.
In this article, I will guide you through troubleshooting steps for diagnosing and resolving the 0x8007054b error. We cover how to verify domain connectivity, temporarily disable auto-enrollment, manually request new certificates, and re-enable the feature once the problems are addressed.
Fix error message 0x8007054b Event ID 15
The error message indicates an issue with the domain or network connection during automatic certificate enrollment for the Local System account. To troubleshoot:
- Verify that the computer’s DNS settings are correctly configured and can resolve the domain controller. Update settings if needed.
- Open the Local Group Policy Editor (run “gpedit. msc”). Navigate to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Public Key Policies.
- Double-click on Auto-Enrollment Settings and disable automatic certificate enrollment.
- Repeat step 3 for User Configuration.
- Restart the computer for changes to take effect.
- Try re-enrolling the computer certificate manually through the Certificates snap-in.
- If the issue persists, check for network connectivity problems between the computer and the domain controller.
This should disable the failing automatic enrollment and allow resolving any underlying network issues before re-enabling the feature.
Investigate Active Directory
- Work with your IT administrator to investigate the health and functionality of the Active Directory domain controller.
- Ensure that DNS settings are correct and that the domain controller is reachable.
Firewall Interference
- Check if any firewalls, especially on endpoint devices, are blocking communication with the Active Directory server.
- Adjust firewall settings as necessary to allow the required communication for certificate enrollment.
Review Event Logs
- Examine additional events and logs in the Event Viewer to gather more information about the underlying issue.
- Look for any related errors or warnings that might provide insights into the cause of the problem.