While configuring BizTalk with remote management database in pre-production environment I ran into some tricky problem. At Server Group configuration stage received following error:


 


Failed to deploy BizTalk system assembly “D:\Program Files\BizTalk 2006\Microsoft.BizTalk.GlobalPropertySchemas.dll”.


The transaction is in doubt.


 


Cannot open database BizTalkMgmtDb on server btssql001.Verify that you have the required security permissions and that communication between Distributed Transaction Coordinator services on the machines involved is not prevented by current DTC security,   firewall or authentication settings.


 


I followed all DTC configuration recommendations described in the multiserver installation documentation and there wasn’t firewall between boxes.


 


Running DTCTester and DTCPing helped to nail down the cause. DTCTester test transaction failed but DTCPing showed successful RPC test although there was a message in the log that both boxes had the same CID. That was it – boxes were cloned so was the registry entry with MSDTC CID (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CID). Uninstalling and installing MSDTC followed by rebooting cured the problem. Now we know how cloning can be bad J