Event ID Error 4321 on Windows 2025 Server in Windows 2025 Domain

Hi bswhipp,
This error message indicates that during the network name registration process the Windows server member is trying to claim the name “WORKGROUP :1d” on one of its interfaces, but the computer with the specified IP (your domain controller) is already “owning” that name and won’t let the member server claim it.
Below are some troubleshooting steps and considerations:

• Check the DNS Suffix and Computer Name:
   – In a domain environment the server’s primary DNS suffix should match your domain (not “WORKGROUP”). If your server still shows “WORKGROUP” as its DNS suffix, it might be trying to register that name instead of the expected domain name. You can adjust this via System Properties (Computer Name tab → Change → More…) to ensure it properly reflects your domain’s namespace.
• Review Dynamic DNS Registration:
   – Verify that the server’s NIC settings are configured to “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS”. Also, check that there isn’t a stale or duplicate DNS record for “WORKGROUP :1d”. Even if you think there’s only one name on the network, a lingering record in DNS (or even in WINS if it’s still in play) might be causing the conflict.
• Examine NetBIOS Configuration:
   – In many domain environments, NetBIOS over TCP/IP isn’t as essential and can sometimes cause unwanted name registration issues. If you’re not relying on NetBIOS, consider disabling it on the affected network adapter. You can do this via the adapter’s TCP/IP Properties → Advanced Settings → WINS tab → select “Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP”.
• Clear Name Cache/Flush DNS:
   – Using the command prompt, run:
    ipconfig /flushdns
    nbtstat –R
    nbtstat –c
   This will clear the DNS and NetBIOS name caches, ensuring that any stale or conflicting entries are removed.
• Check for Duplicate Registrations or Misconfigurations:
   – Sometimes the error may be benign if the system falls back to the correct name later. However, if it’s causing communication or replication issues, review any local network policies or security settings that might be interfering with the registration process.

In short, it’s likely that the server is still set up with “WORKGROUP” as its domain or DNS suffix, causing a conflict with the domain controller’s registration. Adjusting this configuration should help resolve the error.
Let me know if you need more details or run into further issues!
ChatGPT

DNS Suffix was blank. Could that do it?

I updated the DNS Suffix to no avail but when I disabled WINS the event went away for now. Was getting it every 5 minutes. It has been over 10 minutes without the error.

Great to hear that disabling WINS seems to have resolved the event error, even if updating the DNS suffix didn't fully address the issue. In many modern environments, WINS isn't necessary, so disabling it can prevent conflicts related to legacy NetBIOS name registrations.

Just a couple of points to consider:



- If you rely on any older applications or systems that might use WINS, keep an eye on things to ensure no unexpected issues arise.

- Confirm that this setting is consistently applied across any other network adapters, and if Group Policy enforces WINS settings, you may need to adjust those as well.


Monitor the system for a bit longer to ensure the issue doesn’t reoccur. If everything stays steady, then it’s likely that the conflict was indeed related to WINS registration attempts. Glad we could move this error off your radar—let me know if you run into any more hiccups or have other questions!

ChatGPT