[Solved] Hybrid Configuration Wizard Stuck on ‘Adding Federated Domain’ Stage

How to go past the 'Adding Federated Domain' status in the hybrid configuration wizard, while running from an Exchange 2016 CU7 server?

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I have come across this issue a couple of times now and mostly while the server from which I am running the hybrid configuration wizard is Exchange 2016 CU7. This is not to say that it won't happen on another CU level.

The issue is that HCW gets 'stuck' while trying to verify the domain's TXT record (to prove the ownership) and adding the domain. The wizard verifies the existence of the TXT record, but doesn't go past the window below even after letting it do it's thing for hours!

Adding federated domain error

A quick google confirms that there are number of other customers who have the same issue  and number of workaround and solutions have been suggested.

The one solution that has worked for me all the time is to have an ini file in the 'Config' folder of the Exchange 2016 server. Follow the exact steps below.

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    Open Notepad, copy & paste the text below.
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    [SystemConfigurationTasks.settings.ini:FederationTrustFromCache]
    Enabled=False
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    Save it as SystemConfigurationTasks.Overrides.ini
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    Make sure that the file type is set to txt while saving. It won't work otherwise.
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    Place this file in 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\Config', assuming that Exchange 2016 is installed on the C drive.
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    Run the HCW again from scratch and it should go past the 'Adding federated domain' status. 

Have you used any other workarounds for the same issue? Let me know in the comments below.

  • Sean says:
    February 21, 2018 at 6:20 am

    That worked like a charm! I love you man will you marry me?

    Reply
  • Renier says:
    July 25, 2018 at 12:20 am

    No luck for me

    Reply
  • Jan says:
    February 25, 2019 at 11:24 am

    Worked in my Case. Thanks!

    Reply
  • Pete Fenak says:
    June 14, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    I had multiple domains. I checked then off one at a time, proceeded to next and then went back and did that for all of them until they were all able to get through the next step, then went back and selected all and was able to proceed.

    Reply
  • René Eigenmann says:
    November 18, 2019 at 11:17 am

    Same her
    Only one Domain is not working.

    Reply
  • SABBIR AHMED KHAN says:
    November 29, 2019 at 10:49 am

    i applied this but not success.

    Reply