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Manage Circular Reference

By default, Directory Manager checks for circular reference and does not allow it when users update objects manually or when objects are auto updated via a Directory Manager schedule. If a circular reference occurs, Directory Manager displays an error and prevents the user from saving the change.

Examples of circular reference are:

  • When UserA is a direct report of UserB and UserB is a direct report of UserC, a circular reference would occur when you try to set UserA as UserC's manager.
  • When you try to add a group as its member, say, add GroupA as a member of GroupA, a circular reference would occur.
  • When GroupA is a member of GroupB, GroupB is a member of GroupC, a circular reference would occur when you try to add GroupC as a member of GroupA.

You can change the default setting to allow Directory Manager to save updates to objects even when a circular reference occurs.

What do you want to do?

  • Allow Circular Reference
  • Skip the replication of members of a dynamic group in Entra ID 

Allow Circular Reference​

  1. In Admin Center, click Identity Stores in the left pane.
  2. On the Identity Stores page, click the ellipsis button for an identity store and select Edit.
  3. Click Configurations under Settings in the left pane. Then click Miscellaneous.
  4. On the Miscellaneous page, uncheck the Check for Circular Reference check box to allow Directory Manager to save changes to objects that involve circular reference.
    The check box is selected by default, indicating that Directory Manager prevents circular reference in objects.
  5. Click Save.

Skip the replication of members of a dynamic group in Entra ID​

  1. In Admin Center, click Identity Stores in the left pane.
  2. On the Identity Stores page, click the ellipsis button for an identity store and select Edit.
  3. Click Configurations under Settings in the left pane. Then click Miscellaneous.
  4. On the Miscellaneous page, select the Skip Replicating members related attributes of Groups with dynamic membership check box to skip the replication of members of a dynamic group in Microsoft Entra ID based identity store.
  5. Click Save.