Solve Kerberos Authentication Problems with SCCM Script
In enterprise environments, dealing with Kerberos authentication errors on SCCM client machines can be a challenge. However, a script is available to help diagnose and fix these issues remotely. This article will outline the key aspects of the script and its role in resolving Kerberos authentication errors.
The script is designed to work on an imported set of SCCM clients and determine if there is a Kerberos authentication error. To run the script, it is necessary to have PsExec.exe in the C:\ADMIN\PSTools\ directory of the PC beforehand. The script is fully compatible with CMTrace.exe for logging purposes and accepts a CSV file containing a list of computers for its execution.
If the invocation of the script returns the exception error , it can be assumed there is an error. The script is equipped to handle various tasks, such as resetting Kerberos tickets, flushing DNS caches, restarting relevant services, or applying registry edits remotely.
The script's primary focus is to address common causes of Kerberos errors, such as failed password rotation, stale machine accounts, and interactions with Credential Guard. To resolve these issues, the recommended approach includes:
- Ensuring all relevant client and server machines have the latest Windows security updates installed, particularly the April 2025 update (KB5055523) or later. This update addresses Kerberos issues related to password rotation failures that can cause authentication failures in enterprise environments using Credential Guard and Kerberos.
- Verifying proper password rotation for machine accounts under Kerberos. Failures here lead to the client machine being seen as stale or disabled in Active Directory, causing authentication to fail.
- Checking Group Policy settings and registry keys related to Kerberos and authentication mechanisms. For example, enabling or configuring registry parameters via GPO or SCCM that relate to Kerberos authentication (like EnableKerberosAuth in Citrix VPN settings) might be necessary depending on environment specifics.
- If service account issues or service identity changes are involved, ensuring the service account credentials are updated properly and associated services restarted to reflect these changes can help.
Regarding the role of PsExec.exe in a script to diagnose and fix such errors, PsExec.exe is a Sysinternals tool used to execute processes remotely with elevated permissions. In the context of Kerberos and SCCM troubleshooting, PsExec.exe can be used within a script to remotely run diagnostic commands or repair tasks on client machines where Kerberos errors occur. This can be critical for troubleshooting sensitive authentication mechanisms without manual intervention on each machine.
In summary, PsExec.exe acts as a remote execution facilitator in scripts designed to diagnose and repair Kerberos authentication issues on SCCM clients by allowing commands or fixes to be deployed remotely and elevated. This enables efficient enterprise-wide resolution of Kerberos errors impacting SCCM client authentication.
- The script, designed for data-and-cloud-computing environments, utilizes technology such as PsExec.exe to execute repairs remotely, helping resolve Kerberos authentication errors on SCCM client machines.
- Understanding the role of technology like PsExec.exe in diagnosing and fixing Kerberos authentication errors is crucial, as it allows for efficient management and maintenance of networked computers in enterprise environments.
