Problem

You get the error:

An error has occurred while accessing the SQL Server database or the SharePoint Server Search service

when you try to access the following page: User Profile Service Application -> Configure Synchronizations.

ULS logs show the following error:

ManageDSServer.IssueQuery: System.IO.FileLoadException: The located assembly’s manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)

at Microsoft.Office.Server.UserProfiles.UserProfileConfigManager.InitializeIlmClient(String ILMMachineName, Int32 FIMWebClientTimeOut)

at Microsoft.Office.Server.UserProfiles.UserProfileConfigManager..ctor(UserProfileApplicationProxy userProfileApplicationProxy, Guid partitionID)

at Microsoft.SharePoint.Portal.WebControls.ManageDSServer.IssueQuery(String strQuery, Int32 startRowIndex, Int32 endRowIndex).

Solution

This error normally occurs when you try to access the User Profile Service synchronisation page right after you provision your service application WITHOUT first doing an IISRESET.

Performing an IISRESET resolves the problem.