I'm stumped on this one.
I have an AD environment with five sites, ten domain controllers. All DCs are running Server 2012 R2 and that is also the functional level of the domain. I built up a new print server (running Server 2016 w/ full GUI) and when deploying a printer from print management, I get this error when browsing for the GPO to add the printer to:
"Failed to query for the list of Group Policy Objects linked to this container." Details: "A referral was returned from the server."
If I close the error and try browsing again, eventually it will show me all of my OUs and GPOs. It usually takes about 4 attempts. I have never seen this error appear anywhere other than print management. It shows up regardless of whether I'm using print management from my desktop (connected to the print server) or from the print server directly.
I ran a dcdiag and everything passes. Group policies are applied properly to clients. At the site my desktop and the print server live in, I've powered off one DC at a time to see if I could isolate it to a request made to one or the other. There was no change in the behavior when either one was shut down.
Any ideas? Thanks!