There is a problem communicating with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM server. The server might be unavailable. Try again later. If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.
I received this error message when trying to add an organization to Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook.
And when we see this message we need to enable tracing so we can gather more (useful) data about the issue that lies beneath. See KB 2862031: How to enable tracing for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook client for more information.
On this particular occasion, the log file gave me this much more specific error message:
Configuration Wizard knows that our client's machine is using Windows Authentication - and is assuming that I am a member of the domain that the server belongs to. This won't work because I am accessing the server through a VPN - from a machine that is not a member of that domain.
So... how can we get Configuration Wizard to prompt us for credentials? Is there another way to add an organization?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook can be installed - AND CONFIGURED - using the command prompt. See Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook using a Command Prompt for more information. And command prompts usually give us options that GUIs don't.
Today is no exception. And - it's the search for those options that leads us to our solution - which is found here:
And when we see this message we need to enable tracing so we can gather more (useful) data about the issue that lies beneath. See KB 2862031: How to enable tracing for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook client for more information.
On this particular occasion, the log file gave me this much more specific error message:
The request for security token could not be satisfied because authentication failed.
Ahh. My credentials are incorrect. But - what credentials were used? Configuration Wizard wasn't prompting me for credentials. Why?Configuration Wizard knows that our client's machine is using Windows Authentication - and is assuming that I am a member of the domain that the server belongs to. This won't work because I am accessing the server through a VPN - from a machine that is not a member of that domain.
So... how can we get Configuration Wizard to prompt us for credentials? Is there another way to add an organization?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook can be installed - AND CONFIGURED - using the command prompt. See Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook using a Command Prompt for more information. And command prompts usually give us options that GUIs don't.
Today is no exception. And - it's the search for those options that leads us to our solution - which is found here:
- User credentials are required when you run the Configuration Wizard
- Sample Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook XML configuration file for configuration
The prompt (as well as the GUI in situations like these) requires credentials to already exist in Credentials Manager (a.k.a. Windows Vault) for the organization(s) you are trying to connect to.
So... we are going to enter those credentials into the Credentials Manager, and then run Configuration Wizard again.
So... we are going to enter those credentials into the Credentials Manager, and then run Configuration Wizard again.
Open a command prompt, and for each organization that you need to create a connection to, use the following command:
cmdkey /generic:Microsoft_CRM_{protocol}://{serverUrl}/ /user:{userName} /password
...to be prompted for a password, OR
cmdkey /generic:Microsoft_CRM_{protocol}://{serverUrl}/ /user:{userName} /password:{password}
...to enter your password in plain text.
EXAMPLE:
cmdkey /generic:Microsoft_CRM_https://contoso.crm.dynamics.com/ /user:user@contoso.com /password
This experience included:
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Microsoft Office Outlook
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 (On Premise)
- Outlook 2013
- Windows 8
