A security package specific error occurred

Error Message

When trying to connect to the ArcGIS server using ArcCatalog the following error message is received: "Error: a security package specific error occurred".

Cause

This occurs when the client machine is a Windows XP machine and all domain servers are Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 machines and are set to Active Directory level 3 native mode.

This is a result of how DCOM is handled in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

For additional information see the Microsoft article: How to raise Active Directory domain and forest functional levels

Solution or Workaround

There are currently three options available with a fourth option to be available in 2012.

• Upgrade the client machine to Windows 7 (contact your IT administrator).
• Downgrade a server to Windows 2003 (contact your IT administrator).
• Apply fix from Microsoft available in MSDN technical article 99642.
• Upgrade to ArcGIS 10.1 (available in 2012).