troubleshoot Azure AD Connect synchronization

Azure AD Connect synchronizes on-premises Active Directory with Office 365 and Azure AD. This seamless integration allows users to sign in with their existing credentials and provides administrators with a streamlined method to manage both on-premises and cloud identities.

Azure AD Connect Synchronization Problems and How to Troubleshoot

Problem 1: Synchronization Not Occurring

Often, you might find that synchronization is not taking place at all.

Troubleshooting:

Whenever you encounter this problem, the first place to check is the Synchronization Service Manager. You can access it through the Start Menu – find Azure AD Connect Synchronization Service.

Once you’re in the service, navigate to ‘Operations’. Under this tab, you can view recent synchronization activities. If synchronization is not taking place, it will indicate the issue.

Problem 2: Objects Not Synchronizing

Sometimes specific directory objects are not syncing to Azure AD.

Troubleshooting:

In such cases, use the IdFix tool. IdFix identifies errors such as duplicate attributes, formatting errors, or prohibited characters that prevent directory objects from synchronizing.

Problem 3: Passwords Not Synchronizing

In some instances, users’ passwords are not syncing from on-premises AD to Azure AD.

Troubleshooting:

Azure AD Connect provides a troubleshooting task in the wizard called ‘password synchronization’. This task will enable administrators to figure out why password synchronization is not functioning correctly and fix it.

Problem 4: Deleted or Disabled Accounts Not Synchronizing

When an administrator deletes or disables user accounts on-premises, sometimes these changes are not reflected in Azure AD.

Troubleshooting:

In such cases, Azure AD Connect’s “staging mode” is beneficial. When an on-premises account is deleted or disabled, you can confirm if the changes reflect in Azure AD by using the staging mode. Staging mode allows validation of the changes before they are applied in Azure AD.

Problem 5: Federated Domain Changes Not Synchronizing

When changes are made to federated domains, they occasionally don’t sync with Azure AD.

Troubleshooting:

You can troubleshoot this by converting the domain to a Managed domain. Once converted, run a full sync cycle, and the changes should now reflect in Azure AD.

Installing and Configuring Azure AD Connect

To resolve these issues more effectively, it’s essential to understand how to install and configuration Azure AD Connect properly.

• Azure AD Connect Installation: To install, download Azure AD Connect from the Microsoft site and follow the prompt for installation.
• Configuration: After installing, you’ll need to configure the tool properly. Choose your user sign-in method, connect to Azure AD by specifying user credentials, and connect your directories.

Then, Azure AD Connect will run an initial sync. Allow it to finish, and the status will change to ‘Sync Enabled.’ You can now manage your directory synchronization from the on-premises Active Directory.

By obtaining a fundamental understanding of these troubleshooting steps, candidates preparing for the MS-100 exam not only equip themselves with practical knowledge of Azure AD Connect but also pave the way for successful issue resolution in various Directory Synchronization scenarios. Recalling these steps helps to address the ‘Implement and Manage Identity Synchronization’ portion of the MS-100 exam skillfully.

Practice Test

True or False: Azure AD Connect uses Synchronization Rules to manage attribute flows.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Synchronization Rules in Azure AD Connect defines how the attribute values flow to and from Azure AD.

Single Select: When connecting a Windows Server AD with Azure AD, which tool do you use?

• a) Azure AD Connect
• b) Azure AD Sync
• c) Azure AD Migration
• d) Azure AD Administration

Answer: a) Azure AD Connect

Explanation: Azure AD Connect is primarily used to connect Windows Server Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.

True or False: Azure AD Connect does not support a multi-forest scenario where all forests contain the same users.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Azure AD Connect supports multi-forest scenarios and can even handle duplicate users across forests.

Multiple Select: Which of the following are common troubleshooting steps for Azure AD Connect synchronization issues?

• a) Checking the event viewer for errors
• b) Verifying synchronization settings
• c) Reinstalling Microsoft Office
• d) Checking the connect health in the Azure portal

Answer: a) Checking the event viewer for errors, b) Verifying synchronization settings, and d) Checking the connect health in the Azure portal

Explanation: When troubleshooting synchronization issues, checking the event viewer, verifying synchronization settings, and checking connect health are good starting points. Reinstalling Microsoft Office has nothing to do with Azure AD Connect synchronization.

Single Select: How frequently is Azure AD Connect set to synchronize data between AD and Azure AD by default?

• a) Every 30 minutes
• b) Every hour
• c) Every few seconds
• d) Twice a day

Answer: a) Every 30 minutes

Explanation: Azure AD Connect performs an automatic synchronization cycle every 30 minutes as the default setting.

True or False: To troubleshoot Azure AD Connect synchronization, the Azure portal needs to be uninstalled and reinstalled.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Uninstalling and reinstalling the Azure portal is unnecessary for troubleshooting Azure AD Connect synchronization. There are many other troubleshooting steps that can be performed without this.

Single Select: Which feature in Azure AD Connect allows you to validate and test changes without impacting your production environment?

• a) Azure Sandbox
• b) Staging mode
• c) Test mode
• d) Validation mode

Answer: b) Staging mode

Explanation: Staging mode in Azure AD connect allows you to validate and test changes in a non-production context.

True or False: One can use IdFix DirSync Error Remediation tool to troubleshoot Azure AD connect.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: The IdFix DirSync Error Remediation tool identifies and fixes errors such as duplicates and formatting problems, which helps in troubleshooting Azure AD Connect.

Single Select: If there is an issue with an object not synchronizing, you might need to

• a) Restart your computer
• b) Update your browser
• c) Use the Synchronization Service Manager
• d) Delete and recreate the object in Active Directory

Answer: c) Use the Synchronization Service Manager

Explanation: The Synchronization Service Manager can be used to verify if an object is being synchronized and identify any issues causing the synchronization to fail.

True or False: It is not possible to manually trigger a synchronization cycle in Azure AD Connect.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: An immediate synchronization can be triggered manually using PowerShell in Azure AD Connect.

Interview Questions

What is Azure AD Connect synchronization?

Azure AD Connect synchronization is Microsoft’s tool that helps you synchronize online and on-premises environments to a single, cohesive AD environment. It enables users to authenticate via either environment, providing a smoother sign-in experience.

What should you check if synchronization is not occurring in Azure AD Connect?

First, check if the Azure AD Connect sync service (Azure AD Sync Service) is running on your local machine. You can also check the Synchronization Service Manager in the Azure AD Connect Sync console to see the statuses of your recent syncs.

What are some common causes of failed synchronization in Azure AD Connect?

Common causes include network connectivity issues, incorrect credentials, time skew problems between systems, or configuration changes in the source or target directories.

How can you validate whether the synchronization service is running or not?

You can validate it through the Synchronization Service Manager on the server where Azure AD Connect is installed.

What is the “Exported-Error” synchronizing status in Azure AD Connect?

“Exported-Error” refers to an error that has occurred when Azure AD Connect attempted to export a change to Azure AD. This might be because of a violation of the service’s constraints, or due to an interruption in connectivity.

What is Azure AD Connect Health and how can it assist in troubleshooting synchronization issues?

Azure AD Connect Health is a tool that helps you monitor and gain insights into your on-premises environment. It can assist in troubleshooting synchronization issues by providing alerts, performance monitoring, usage analytics, and other valuable insights.

How frequently does Azure AD Connect synchronize?

By default, Azure AD Connect is configured to synchronize every 30 minutes. However, the frequency can be adjusted based on the specific needs of your organization.

How can you manually start a synchronization cycle in Azure AD Connect?

You can manually start a synchronization cycle using PowerShell. The command for a full synchronization is “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Initial”, and for a delta (changes only) synchronization, use “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Delta”.

Which components are installed with Azure AD Connect?

Several components are installed with Azure AD Connect including Azure AD Connect sync, SQL Server 2012 Express, Azure AD PowerShell Module, and Microsoft Online Services Sign-In Assistant.

How would you troubleshoot a failed password hash synchronization in Azure AD Connect?

To troubleshoot this issue, you should first confirm that password hash synchronization is enabled. Then, ensure the account being used for Azure AD Connect has the necessary permissions. If these checks are validated, use the troubleshooting task in Azure AD Connect Health or review the event viewer for specific error messages.

How can you confirm if objects are synchronized to Azure AD?

You can confirm if objects have been synchronized to Azure AD by checking the meta-verse for objects using the Metaverse Designer in the Synchronization Service Manager console.

What do you do if a user or object doesn’t synchronize as expected?

The Azure AD Connect troubleshooting guide provides a set of steps to identify why an object isn’t synchronizing. These include checking the object’s attribute values, confirming the object is within the scope of Azure AD Connect sync, and checking for synchronization rules conflicts.

Can you run multiple instances of Azure AD Connect against a single Azure AD tenant?

No, you cannot have more than one Azure AD Connect sync server connected to a single Azure AD tenant.

What is the primary function of Azure AD Connect?

The primary function of Azure AD Connect is to provide secure, seamless access to cloud and on-premises resources by synchronizing on-premises directory objects to the Azure Active Directory.

How can you modify the synchronization interval in Azure AD Connect?

The synchronization interval can be modified through PowerShell. You can change the interval with the “Set-ADSyncScheduler -CustomizedSyncCycleInterval” command.