No network provider accepted the given network path

Problem

The Endpoint Central agent/Distribution server installation, patch scanning and remote control have failed. The error message that you see on the screen is, ' No network provider accepted the given network path'.

Cause

This error could be due to one or more of the following reasons:

• You do not have access to admin$ of the client system
• You are unable to ping the client system through FQDN
• File and print sharing for Microsoft Networks is not enabled
• File and printer sharing is disabled in the Windows firewall of the client systems
• Security policies are not configured
• Workstation services are not running in the client systems.
• TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper services are not running in the client systems
• You have not opened the following ports in the firewall of the client systems
  • 135
  • 139
  • 445

Resolution

You can resolve this problem as follows:

Check your access to admin$ of the client systems

To check your access to admin$ of the client systems, follow the steps given below:

1. In the computer where the Endpoint Central server is installed, click Start>Run
2. Enter \\<client Computer Name>\admin$
3. Click OK

If you get the same error, enable the Remote Administration Exception option in the client systems. Follow the steps given below:

1. In the client system, click start>Run
2. Enter gpedit.msc
3. Click OK
4. Expand Administrative Templates>Network>Network Connections>Windows Firewall
5. Click the Domain Profile
6. Double click the Windows Firewall : Allow remote administration exception option
7. Select Enabled
8. Click OK

You have successfully enabled the remote administration exception option in the client systems.

Ping the client system using a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)

Ensure that you are able to ping the client systems from the system where the Endpoint Central server is installed using a fully qualified domain name (example hostname.domainname.com)

Enable File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks

You are required to enable the file and printer sharing option for the Microsoft networks in the client systems. Follow the steps given below:

1. Click start>Settings>Network Connections
2. Right click on network connection>select Properties
3. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, select the General tab
4. Select the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks checkbox
5. Click OK

Note: If you do not find this option, you are required to install the file and printer sharing option.

To install the file and printer sharing option for Microsoft networks, follow the steps given below:

1. Click start>Settings>Network Connections
2. Right click on Network Connection>select Properties.
3. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, select the General tab
4. Click Install
5. Select Service
6. Click Add
7. In the Network Service section, select File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
8. Click OK
9. Click Close

You have succssfully installed the file and printer sharing option for Microsoft networks.

Enable File and Printer Sharing in the Windows firewalls of the client systems

You are required to enable the file and printer sharing option in the Windows firewalls of the client systems. Follow the steps given below:

1. Click start>Settings>Control Panel>Windows Firewall
2. Select the Exceptions tab
3. Select the File and Printer Sharing check box
4. Click OK

You have successfully enabled the file and printer sharing option in the Windows firewalls of the client systems.

If you still get the error that no network provider has accepted the given network path, do the following:

• Verify if you are configuring the file and printer sharing option in the same profile that the Endpoint Central server computer is using
• Check the profile using which the Endpoint Central server is installed. In some cases, if the profile used to enable the file and printer sharing option in the domain is different from the one used to install Endpoint Central, the file and printer sharing option may not be enabled in the standard profile.

You can use the Netsh tool to determine the following information:

• System profile using which the Endpoint Central server is installed.
• Profile using which you have enabled the file and printer sharing option

Alternatively, you can enable the file and printer sharing option for all profiles. To do this, follow the steps given below:

1. Click start>Run
2. Enter cmd
3. Enter netsh firewall set service type = FILEANDPRINT mode = ENABLE scope = ALL profile = ALL
4. Press Enter

You have successfully enabled the file and printer sharing option for all profiles.

Configure the security policy

To configure the security policy in the system, follow the steps given below:

1. Click start>Settings>Control Panel>Administrative Tools
2. Double click Local Security Policy>Local Policies>Security Options
3. Double click Network security: LAN Manager authentication level
4. Select Send LM and NTLM responses
5. Click OK

You have successfully configured the security policy in the system.

Start the workstation service in the client computers

You are required to start the workstation service in the client computers. Follow the steps given below:

1. Select start>Settings>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services
2. Right click Workstation>Start

You have successfully restarted the workstation service in the client computers.

Start the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service in client computers

1. Select start>Settings>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services
2. Right clickTCP/IP NetBIOS Helper>Start

You have successfully started the TCP/IP NetBIOS helper service in client computers.

Open the required ports

You are required to open the following ports in the firewalls of the client systems:

• 135
• 139
• 445

Applies to: Agent/Distribution server installation failure, patch scan failure, asset scan failure, Endpoint Central agent/Distribution server installation, Remote Control