Error: 'Unable to access server. Please make sure you are logged onto the domain.' (NETIQKB37311)

fact
NetIQ Group Policy Administrator 3.0

symptom

Error: 'Unable to access server.  Please make sure you are logged onto the domain.'

symptom
Error occurs when trying to connect to a domain with NetIQ Group Policy Administrator.

cause
This error can result from a Domain Naming System (DNS) resolution issue.

fix

To verify if a DNS resolution issue exists:

1. From a command prompt on the client workstation, try to ping the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of a domain controller (DC) of the domain.
   
   For example:

   > ping DC_name.acme.com


   Note:  If there is a DNS resolution issue, the ping result will be incorrect or nothing may be returned at all.

To resolve the DNS resolution issue:

1. Correct the DNS server entries to allow resolution of the FQDN of the DC, or edit the %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file on the client workstation and add an entry for the fully qualified name of the domain controller(s).
   
   

   Example entry in the %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file of the FQDN of the DC:

   10.10.2.21         Domain_controller_name.acme.com

2. Run ipconfig /flushdns from a command prompt
3. Relaunch the NetIQ Group Policy Administrator graphical user interface (GUI).

Formerly known as NETIQKB37311