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Overview of the Issue
IT administrators face a critical challenge with Windows Server 2025 where a system restart can disrupt normal operations and connectivity within Active Directory (AD) environments. This malfunction stems directly from the server defaulting to a standard firewall profile post-reboot instead of the necessary domain-specific firewall.
Core Problems Triggered by the Firewall Misconfiguration
- Domain controllers may lose connectivity, rendering them inaccessible on the domain network.
- Essential applications and services may experience failures or become completely unreachable.
- Critical security risks arise as crucial ports and protocols remain unrestricted.
Only Windows Server 2025 instances running Active Directory Domain Services are impacted by this issue, sparing earlier versions and client systems any trouble.
Immediate Solutions and Workarounds
Microsoft has crafted a temporary fix to mitigate these disturbances, involving the manual restart of the network adapter via PowerShell:
Restart-NetAdapter *
This script offers an instant but temporary solution and must be re-applied after every server restart. For a more hands-off approach, setting up a scheduled task to auto-restart the network adapter upon server reboots is advisable.
This ongoing problem echoes issues seen in Windows Server 2022, though solutions that worked for previous versions do not correct the present defect in Windows Server 2025.
Proactive Steps for IT Administrators
- Either apply the manual workaround every time or implement an automatic task scheduler.
- Continuously monitor domain controllers for any signs of connectivity or service interruptions.
- Limiter server restarts to only when absolutely necessary until a permanent fix is dispatched.
Microsoft confirms that their engineering team is diligently developing a permanent solution, which will be included in an upcoming system update. The exact release date for this update has yet to be announced.
Conclusion
Organizations affected by this issue should prepare for intermittent downtime and ensure that all systems dependent on Active Directory maintain functionality through these temporary fixes. Staying prepared and vigilant is crucial until a lasting resolution is available.
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Last Updated: April 14, 2025
