What does Windows error code 8478 (ERROR_DS_DS_REQUIRED) mean?

 
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ERROR_DS_DRA_REPL_PENDING ERROR_DS_INVALID_LDAP_DISPLAY_NAME

ERROR_DS_DS_REQUIRED

The requested operation requires a directory service, and none was available.

ERROR_DS_DS_REQUIRED is Win32 error 8478 (0x0000211E).

What to verify

Verify whether the target environment has a reachable AD DS or AD LDS service that owns the requested data or operation. Check operation and required directory role, DC locator result, and DNS SRV queries.

Likely causes

  • the machine is offline or not domain-connected.
  • DC discovery fails.
  • the selected server is not a directory service.
  • the required AD LDS instance is stopped.

Troubleshooting steps

  1. Collect operation and required directory role.
  2. Record DC locator result.

Handling, retry, and recovery

Restore directory availability or target the correct directory instance; provide an explicit offline path when the operation can be deferred.

Related errors

ERROR_NO_LOGON_SERVERS is authentication-focused; this code applies more broadly to operations requiring a directory service

Example

A policy tool runs on a workgroup machine and requests domain directory data. It reports the missing directory dependency instead of searching local files for a substitute.

References


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