SharePoint 2010 User profile sync connection creation failed: Unable to process Create message

 

Today I was helping one of my customer with creating the UPS sync connection on SharePoint 2010 environment and ran into the below errors, after going through all the dramas I was able to found the cause and fix it. Thought of sharing it with all:

SharePoint Errors:

ERROR

Unable to process Create message

In the Application event log:

Source: Forefront Identity Manager

Event ID: 3

Microsoft.ResourceManagement: System.InvalidOperationException: Retrieve schema failed

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.Utilities.ExceptionManager.ThrowException(Exception exception)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.ActionProcessor.SyncConfigActionProcessor.Create(String typeName, IList`1 createParameters, Guid creator, Guid cause)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.ActionProcessor.SyncConfigActionProcessor.ProcessInputRequest(RequestType request)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.ActionProcessor.ActionDispatcher.ProcessInputRequest(RequestType request)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.WebServices.RequestDispatcher.ExecuteAction(RequestType request)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.WebServices.RequestDispatcher.ExecuteAction[ResponseBodyType](RequestType request)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.WebServices.RequestDispatcher.DispatchRequest[ResponseBodyType](RequestType request, Guid requestIdentifier, Object redispatchSingleInstanceKey)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.WebServices.RequestDispatcher.DispatchRequest[ResponseBodyType](RequestType request)

at Microsoft.ResourceManagement.WebServices.ResourceManagementService.Create(Message request)

 

Resolution:

1. Found that the domain FQDN is different than the NetBIOS name,  while creating the sync connection ( Under the Forest Name column) used the NetBIOS name of the domain instead of the FQDN.

2. Even after using the NetBIOS name we were running into the same error Sad smile.  Checked the OU containers we were selecting in the sync connection and found that those containers doesn't have any users objects ( Bingo!!!).

3. Selected the OU container which has user objects and we were able to successfully create a sync connection!!!

Summary:

If you run into this issue ensure to check the following:

1. Is the domain FQDN is different than NetBIOS? If yes, use the NetBIOS name while creating the connection.

2. Verify the OU has user objects ( I am sure we wouldn't select the OU which doesn't have any users, but worth double checking it)