Event ID 29 — KDC Certificate Availability

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Kerberos uses certificates to encrypt communication between the Kerberos client and the Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC).

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 29
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kerberos-Key-Distribution-Center
Version: 6.0
Symbolic Name: KDCEVENT_MISSING_KDC_CERTIFICATE
Message: The Key Distribution Center (KDC) cannot find a suitable certificate to use for smart card logons, or the KDC certificate could not be verified. Smart card logon may not function correctly if this problem is not resolved. To correct this problem, either verify the existing KDC certificate using certutil.exe or enroll for a new KDC certificate.

Resolve

Request a new domain controller certificate

Kerberos uses a domain controller certificate to ensure that the authentication information sent over the network is encrypted. If the certificate is missing or is no longer valid, you must delete the domain controller certificate and then request a new one.

To resolve this issue:

  • Delete the domain controller certificate that is no longer valid.
  • Request a new certificate.

To perform these procedures, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

Delete the domain controller certificate that is no longer valid

To delete the domain controller certificate that is no longer valid:

  1. On the domain controller in which the issue is occurring, click Start, and then click Run.
  2. Type mmc.exe, and then press ENTER.
  3. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
  4. Click File, and then click Add/Remove Snap-in.
  5. Click Certificates, and then click Add.
  6. Click Computer account, click Next, and then click Finish.
  7. Click OK to open the Certificates snap-in.
  8. Expand Certificates (Local computer), expand Personal, and then click Certificates.
  9. Right-click the old domain controller certificate, and then click Delete.
  10. Click Yes, confirming that you want to delete the certificate.
  11. After the certificate is deleted, follow the procedure in the "Request a new certificate" section.

Request a new certificate

To request a new certificate:

  1. Expand Certificates (Local computer), right-click Personal, and then click Request New Certificate.
  2. Complete the appropriate information in the Certificate Enrollment Wizard for a domain controller certificate.
  3. Close the Certificates snap-in.

Verify

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To verify that the Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) certificate is available and working properly:

  1. Log on to a computer within your domain.
  2. Click Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
  3. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
  4. At the command prompt, type certutil -dcinfo verify, and then press ENTER.
  5. If you receive a successful verification, the Kerberos KDC certificate is installed and operating correctly.

KDC Certificate Availability

Core Security