NTSTATUS 0xC00002A6 (STATUS_DS_UNAVAILABLE): meaning and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: The directory service is unavailable for this operation.

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STATUS_DS_BUSY	STATUS_DS_NO_RIDS_ALLOCATED

STATUS_DS_UNAVAILABLE

The directory endpoint was unavailable

This status is broader than a busy response. The caller reached a path that expected a directory service, but the service was unavailable, not started, not reachable, or not able to serve that operation.

Separate server unavailability from locator and transport failures. A client can report this while another DC is healthy if DNS, site configuration, firewall policy or service registration points it at the wrong endpoint.

What to inspect

Check whether NTDS, Netlogon and DNS registrations are healthy on the selected DC.
Compare LDAP, LDAPS, Kerberos and RPC reachability from the failing client.
Confirm that DC locator selected a domain controller that matches the requested domain, site and GC requirement.

References

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