DSC EventLog errors every 10 mins on pull server

I got errors in client node every 10 minutes which also sends null json as report to pull server, I’m using this pull server for other client nodes running on 2012 and it works just fine.

Not sure what it happens every 10 minutes as my frequencies setup on client LCM are following:
ConfigurationModeFrequencyMins 60
RefreshFrequencyMins 120

I linked DSC Pull Server database to SQL Server so I can also give you rows that this report creates in table StatusReport, besically all columns are null despite:
JobID: 16e946fd-270d-11e8-842c-0050568f3f9b
StartTime: 1899-12-30 00:00:00.000
EndTime: 1899-12-30 00:00:00.000
Errors:
[“{"Locale":"Unknown","ErrorCode":"0","ErrorMessage":"Unknown","ResourceId":"DSCEngine","ErrorSource":"DSCEngine"}”]
AdditionalData:
[{“Key”:“OSVersion”,“Value”:“{"VersionString":"Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.14393.0","ServicePack":"","Platform":"Win32NT"}”},{“Key”:“PSVersion”,“Value”:“{"CLRVersion":"4.0.30319.42000","PSVersion":"5.1.14393.1770","BuildVersion":"10.0.14393.1770"}”}]

Client system spec:
PS: 5.1.14393.2068
OS: Windows Server 2016 1607

Errors in Desired Configuration Configuration/Operational Event Log on client node:

14/03/2018 15:34:00
The DscTimer is running LCM method PerformRequiredConfigurationChecks with the flag set to 8.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
The local configuration manager started.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
Operation Consistency Check or Pull started by user sid S-1-5-20 from computer NULL.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} : Details logging started to C:\Windows\System32\Configuration\ConfigurationStatus{1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F}-0.details.json.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
Message Year, Month, and Day parameters describe an un-representable DateTime.
HResult -2146233086
StackTrack at System.DateTime.DateToTicks(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day)
at System.DateTime…ctor(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond)
at System.Globalization.GregorianCalendar.ToDateTime(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond, Int32 era)
at System.Globalization.Calendar.ToDateTime(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond)
at System.DateTime…ctor(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond, Calendar calendar, DateTimeKind kind)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Native.InstanceMethods.ConvertMiDateTimeToManagedObject(_MI_Datetime* pmiValue)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Native.InstanceMethods.GetElementAt_GetValue(InstanceHandle handle, Int32 index, Object& value)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Internal.Data.CimPropertyOfInstance.get_Value()
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.GetJsonStringArrayStatusValue(Object value, IntPtr& statusInstanceHandle, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.AddSendStatusParametersFromStatusInformation(PowerShell powershell, IntPtr statusInformationPtr, UInt32 reportType, IntPtr& errorInstanceHandle, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.SendStatusReport(IntPtr metaConfigHandle, IntPtr& errorInstanceHandle, IntPtr statusInformation, UInt32 reportType, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
MIResult: 1
Error Message:
Message ID:
Error Category: 0
Error Code: 1
Error Type:

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
MIResult: 1
Error Message: NULL
Message ID: NULL
Error Category: 0
Error Code: 0
Error Type: NULL

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} : Details logging completed for C:\Windows\System32\Configuration\ConfigurationStatus{1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F}-0.details.json.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
Attempting to send the status report using Report Manager WebDownloadManager. AgentId is 053FEE4C-276B-11E8-842D-0050568F1B9F.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
WebReportManager for agent 053FEE4C-276B-11E8-842D-0050568F1B9F Send-DscStatus command with server url: https://dsc:8080/PSDSCPullServer.svc/.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
WebReportManager for agent 053FEE4C-276B-11E8-842D-0050568F1B9F Send-DscStatus command using certificate id: c5afffbeeed3201b4b442a46dd2b1beaaf8d248e.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
WebReportManager for agent 053FEE4C-276B-11E8-842D-0050568F1B9F Send-DscStatus command, POST Url: PSDSCPullServer.svc//Nodes(AgentId=‘053FEE4C-276B-11E8-842D-0050568F1B9F’)/SendReport.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
WebReportManager for agent 053FEE4C-276B-11E8-842D-0050568F1B9F Send-DscStatus command succeeded.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job {1D6B9EF7-279D-11E8-842E-0050568F1B9F} :
Successfully sent the status report using Report Manager WebDownloadManager.

14/03/2018 15:34:00
Job DscTimerConsistencyOperationResult :
DSC Engine Error :
Error Message: NULL
Error Code : 1

By the way this is same issue as raised in here:
https://powershell.org/forums/topic/dsc-eventlog-errors-every-10-mins-on-pull-server/

Given that nobody posted a resolution to the previous post, I think the public answer is still “dunno.” You might try the next step suggested in that other post, if you’ve not done so. I’m not seeing anything in the output you’ve provided that would explain it.

Hi Done,

So this issue happen on client nodes server and I’ve noticed it is related to the DscTimer.
Now I also have same problem on Windows 2012 and 2016 so its not platform or configuration related most likely its just windows configuration.

The json file its creates 44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B}-0.details.json is empty

[
]

Do you know by any chance what is this dsctimer and why it works every 10 minutes and also what it is doing as it seems that its failing on some date time:
Message Year, Month, and Day parameters describe an un-representable DateTime.

The DscTimer is going to start the timer to create task for sending pending report for the first time with value 10 minutes.

The DscTimer successfully created the timer to create task for sending pending report.

The DscTimer has successfully run LCM method PerformRequiredConfigurationChecks with flag 2.

The local configuration manager was shut down.

The DscTimer is running LCM method PerformRequiredConfigurationChecks with the flag set to 8.

The local configuration manager started.

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
Operation Consistency Check or Pull started by user sid S-1-5-20 from computer NULL.

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} : Details logging started to C:\Windows\System32\Configuration\ConfigurationStatus{44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B}-0.details.json.

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
Message Year, Month, and Day parameters describe an un-representable DateTime.
HResult -2146233086
StackTrack at System.DateTime.DateToTicks(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day)
at System.DateTime…ctor(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond)
at System.Globalization.GregorianCalendar.ToDateTime(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond, Int32 era)
at System.Globalization.Calendar.ToDateTime(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond)
at System.DateTime…ctor(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond, Calendar calendar, DateTimeKind kind)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Native.InstanceMethods.ConvertMiDateTimeToManagedObject(_MI_Datetime* pmiValue)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Native.InstanceMethods.GetElementAt_GetValue(InstanceHandle handle, Int32 index, Object& value)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Internal.Data.CimPropertyOfInstance.get_Value()
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.GetJsonStringArrayStatusValue(Object value, IntPtr& statusInstanceHandle, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.AddSendStatusParametersFromStatusInformation(PowerShell powershell, IntPtr statusInformationPtr, UInt32 reportType, IntPtr& errorInstanceHandle, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.SendStatusReport(IntPtr metaConfigHandle, IntPtr& errorInstanceHandle, IntPtr statusInformation, UInt32 reportType, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
MIResult: 1
Error Message:
Message ID:
Error Category: 0
Error Code: 1
Error Type:

Hi Don,

I’ve noticed that problem is with DscTimer running on client nodes form where empty reports are generated which for some reason is kicking in every 10 minutes .

Do you know by any chance what is dsctimer and why it would be running on 10 minute basis even though the config apply and check frequencies are completely different

It seems to me that it might be OS configuration that LCM doesn’t like as it happens for different configurations windows 2012 and 2016

The DscTimer is going to start the timer to create task for sending pending report for the first time with value 10 minutes.

The DscTimer successfully created the timer to create task for sending pending report.

The DscTimer has successfully run LCM method PerformRequiredConfigurationChecks with flag 2.

The local configuration manager was shut down.

The DscTimer is running LCM method PerformRequiredConfigurationChecks with the flag set to 8.

The local configuration manager started.

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
Operation Consistency Check or Pull started by user sid S-1-5-20 from computer NULL.

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} : Details logging started to C:\Windows\System32\Configuration\ConfigurationStatus{44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B}-0.details.json.

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
Message Year, Month, and Day parameters describe an un-representable DateTime.
HResult -2146233086
StackTrack at System.DateTime.DateToTicks(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day)
at System.DateTime…ctor(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond)
at System.Globalization.GregorianCalendar.ToDateTime(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond, Int32 era)
at System.Globalization.Calendar.ToDateTime(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond)
at System.DateTime…ctor(Int32 year, Int32 month, Int32 day, Int32 hour, Int32 minute, Int32 second, Int32 millisecond, Calendar calendar, DateTimeKind kind)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Native.InstanceMethods.ConvertMiDateTimeToManagedObject(_MI_Datetime* pmiValue)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Native.InstanceMethods.GetElementAt_GetValue(InstanceHandle handle, Int32 index, Object& value)
at Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.Internal.Data.CimPropertyOfInstance.get_Value()
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.ConvertCimInstanceToHashTable(CimInstance cimInstance, Boolean bWrap)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.GetJsonStringArrayStatusValue(Object value, IntPtr& statusInstanceHandle, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.AddSendStatusParametersFromStatusInformation(PowerShell powershell, IntPtr statusInformationPtr, UInt32 reportType, IntPtr& errorInstanceHandle, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)
at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Internal.DownloadManagerBase.SendStatusReport(IntPtr metaConfigHandle, IntPtr& errorInstanceHandle, IntPtr statusInformation, UInt32 reportType, UInt32& getActionStatusCode)

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
MIResult: 1
Error Message:
Message ID:
Error Category: 0
Error Code: 1
Error Type:

Job {44C35850-292C-11E8-80C5-0050569E104B} :
MIResult: 1
Error Message: NULL
Message ID: NULL
Error Category: 0
Error Code: 0
Error Type: NULL