If you are running Microsoft Online Services Directory Synchronization, are you receiving e-mail error messages that Directory Synchronization has not run in over 48 hours?

Cause

This issue may occur if any one of the following conditions is true:

• The computer running Directory Synchronization is not working.
• Network connection issues with the computer running Directory Synchronization.
• The Microsoft Online Directory Sync Tool service is stopped because Microsoft Update recently installed a Microsoft SQL update which requires restarting the service.
• The Online Admin Account that is configured for use in Directory Synchronization has changed.
• One of the following events  has occurred with the Online Admin account that is used to configure Directory Synchronization:
  • The account has been deleted.
  • The account has been disabled.
  • The account password has expired.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, run Services.msc and verify that the Microsoft Online Directory Sync Tool service is running.
2. If it is not running, right click the service and click Start.

If that does not resolve the issue:

1. Run the Directory Synchronization Wizard, and take note of the Online Administrator Account that is being used for Directory Synchronization.
2. Start the Microsoft Online Admin Center (MOAC), and verify that the Online Administrator Account that is being used for Directory Synchronization is still active and available. If the account still exists, reset the account password,  and then sign in to the Microsoft Online Admin Center with that account to change this temporary password.
3. On the On-Premise Directory Synchronization  computer, type the new password for the Online Admin Migration account,  and then follow the rest of the steps to complete the wizard.
4. Force a Directory Synchronization.

Use the MIISClient.exe application to determine whether directory synchronization is working correctly. The MIISClient.exe is located at the following path: <drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft Online Directory Sync\SYNCBUS\UIShell\miisclient.exe.

When the MIISClient.exe application provides the message TargetWebService Stopped-Server-Down, this means that the Online Admin Directory Synchronization account being used is no longer valid or cannot be used to synchronize On-Premise objects.

When an On-Premise/Online Synchronization completes successfully, you will receive the message TargetWebService Success from the MIISCllient.exe tool.