When installing MIM 2016 portal you’ll need Sharepoint.

Preface

Sharepoint requires some prerequisites… Installling these on a server without internet access is a PITA.

More information in part 1: https://identityunderground.wordpress.com/2023/06/06/note-to-self-offline-preparation-for-mim-portal-on-sharepoint-2019-without-internet-connection/

But after installing the Sharepoint 2019 prerequisites, you’re not out of the woods yet.
You’ll need to run the Sharepoint 2019 configuration wizard.
That wizard might break with bizare errors if the MIM portal server, eh.. Sharepoint, has no internet connection.

Running the Sharepoint configuration wizard

When installing Sharepoint you’ll find the Sharepoint configuration wizard in the Windows server menu (Windows button > under the installed applications)

Configuration wizard error

In step 3/10 of the Sharepoint configuration wizard the wizard throws an error “Failed to connect to the configuration database.” of “Failed to create to the configuration database”.

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First thought is that the server can’t connect to SQL… but…

Troubleshooting

SQL

If you suspect an SQL connection issue you can

• use the SQL management studio to test the connect
• or use an UDL file to test the SQL connection

Anyway, if you installed the MIM sync before, on the same server, SQL should be fine.
But never assume better verify.
While checking the connection you can also verify if your installer user or MIM admin has proper permissions to connect to the SQL database (by default the installer account will need SQL SysAdmin permissions to create databases on SQL…during installation of Sharepoint and certainly MIM).

But in this case the configuration database was effectively created on the SQL Server

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So it’s not a permission issue and not and SQL issue… what is it then?

Sharepoint troubleshooting

By nature Sharepoint assumes internet connectivity… but if internet is unavailable you get into trouble.
The wizard doesn’t show you that it needs to verify some certificates CRL (certificate revocation lists..)…

If this fails the Sharepoint configuration wizard breaks.. with a bizare error.. failing to connect to the configuration database.

The solution (in this case)

In this case you’ll need to block Sharepoint for online CRL check.
This golden nugget did the trick: http://olorunosebijames3.blogspot.com/2012/10/sharepoint-2010-error-cannot-start.html

You must alter the computer policy to disable

• “Automatically update certificates in the Microsoft Root Certificate Program (recommended)” and 
• “Allow issuer certificate (AIA) retrieval during path validation (recommended“

Then restart the Sharepoint 2019 configuration wizard… hopefully it passes the rest of 7/10 steps..

Useful troubleshooting resources

(Solution) SHAREPOINT 2010 ERROR: “Cannot start service SPAdminV4 on computer ‘.’.” error on SharePoint configuration wizard

http://olorunosebijames3.blogspot.com/2012/10/sharepoint-2010-error-cannot-start.html

SharePoint fails to create Configuration Database for a new farm

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-sharepoint-blog/sharepoint-fails-to-create-configuration-database-for-a-new-farm/ba-p/309056

SharePoint 2019: Offline Installation of Prerequisites

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/51940.sharepoint-2019-offline-installation-of-prerequisites.aspx