When setting up the instance of SCCM or configuring DP, we encountered an error that says that Distribution Manager failed to connect to the distribution point. After checking the distmgr.log, we noticed Error 0x800706BA and the following error message.
Distribution Manager failed to connect to the distribution point
Fix Failed to connect to Remote Distribution Point
If your device fails to connect to the remote distribution point, follow the below solutions.
- Disable Firewall
- Install IIS 6 WMI Compatibility server role
- Install IIS: Windows Authentication
- Parse an MOF file on the target server
- Disable RPC hardening.
1] Disable Firewall
We need to check and ensure that the Firewall is not blocking the connection. To do so, we recommend you disable the Firewall when setting up SCCM or Distribution Point. If disabling the Firewall resolves the issue, add an exception in your Firewall and see.
2] Install IIS 6 WMI Compatibility server role
The IIS 6 WMI Compatibility server role is a feature in Internet Information Services (IIS) that allows compatibility with management scripts and applications originally designed for IIS 6.0. To install it:
- Open Server Manager.
- Click on Manage > Add Roles and Features and click on Next.
- Make sure to select Role-based or feature-based installation and click on Next.
- In the Server Roles tab, expand Web Server (IIS), then Management Tools, and tick IIS 6 Management Compatibility.
- Click on Next.
- If you must install any features, do so and complete the process.
Check if the issue is resolved.
3] Install IIS: Windows Authentication
Windows Authentication allows you to use Windows credentials to authenticate users. Some users had to enable it along with IIS 6 Management Compatibility.
- Go to Server Manager > Manage > Add Roles and Features.
- Keep clicking on Next until you reach the Server Roles tab.
- Tick the Windows Authentication box and install it on your computer.
- Once done, restart the IIS Server from the Services app.
Now, you can configure and enable Windows Authentication. Once done, check if the issue is resolved.
4] Parse an MOF file on the target server
MOF is a file extension for a Windows Management Object file format. MOF files created in the Managed Object Format have syntax based on Microsoft Visual C++. We need to find the smsdpprov.mof file in your primary server, since the environment is different, you need to go to yours, in our case, it was C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Configuration Manager\bin\x64.
Move the file to a different location and run the following elevated mode of the Command Prompt, cd to that location, and then run the following command.
mofcomp.exe smsdpprov.mof
When it’s done, you should see the message MOF file has been successfully parsed. Once it’s done, reboot your computer and see if the issue persists.
5] Disable RPC hardening
RPC hardening enhances the security of Remote Procedure Call (RPC) protocols by protecting them against potential vulnerabilities and attacks. RPC is a protocol that allows a program to request a service from a program located on another computer in a network. However, it can sometimes be a barrier when trying to connect to the Distribution Point. That is why we will disable RPC hardening using the Registry Editor, but before that, create a backup of your registry entries. To do so, open Registry Editor, click on File > Export, give it a name, and then save it somewhere. Once done, follow the steps mentioned below.
- In Registry Editor, navigate to –
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole\AppCompat. - Look for RequireIntegrityActivationAuthenticationLevel.
- If you can’t find it, create a new DWORD value and name it RequireIntegrityActivationAuthenticationLevel.
- You need to double-click on it and set the Value data to 0.
Close the Registry Editor, reboot your computer and see if the issue is resolved.
Read: How to install the SCCM Console in Windows 11?
How to check SCCM distribution point status?
To check the SCCM distribution point status, open the Configuration Manager, navigate to Monitoring > Distribution Status, and select Content Status node. Now, right-click on the content item such as Application or package, and select View Content Distribution.
Read: Folder Redirection Group Policy not applied when using SCCM
What is error code 0x800706ba in SCCM?
The error code 0x800706ba indicates that the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) site server encountered difficulties connecting with the client over RPC ports. This issue may arise when the RPC port 135 or dynamic ports are not accessible between the SCCM site server and the client.
