--- a/management/univention-management-console/src/univention/management/console/base.py	
+++ a/management/univention-management-console/src/univention/management/console/base.py	
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def query(self, request):
 from univention.management.console.ldap import get_user_connection
 from univention.management.console.config import ucr
 from univention.management.console.log import MODULE, CORE
-from univention.management.console.error import UMC_Error, NotAcceptable, PasswordRequired, LDAP_ServerDown
+from univention.management.console.error import UMC_Error, NotAcceptable, PasswordRequired, LDAP_ServerDown, LDAP_ConnectionFailed
 
 _ = Translation('univention.management.console').translate
 
@@ -292,6 +292,8 @@ def error_handling(self, etype, exc, etraceback):
 			exc = exc.original_exception
 		if isinstance(exc, ldap.SERVER_DOWN):
 			raise LDAP_ServerDown()
+		if isinstance(exc, ldap.CONNECT_ERROR):
+			raise LDAP_ConnectionFailed(exc)
 
 	def __error_handling(self, request, method, etype, exc, etraceback):
 		message = ''
--- a/management/univention-management-console/src/univention/management/console/error.py	
+++ a/management/univention-management-console/src/univention/management/console/error.py	
@@ -131,3 +131,21 @@ def _error_msg(self):
 		# yield _('If the problem persists additional hints about the cause can be found in the following log file(s):')
 		# yield ' * /var/log/univention/management-console-server.log'
 		# yield ' * /var/log/univention/management-console-module-*.log'
+
+
+class LDAP_ConnectionFailed(LDAP_ServerDown):
+
+	def __init__(self, exc):
+		self.exc = exc
+		super(LDAP_ConnectionFailed, self).__init__()
+
+	def _error_msg(self):
+		yield _('Cannot connect to the LDAP service.')
+		yield _('Error message: %s') % (self.exc.args[0].get('info', ''),)
+		yield _('The following steps can help to solve this problem:')
+		if not self._is_master:
+			yield ' * ' + _('Make sure the domain controller master is running and reachable from %s') % (self._fqdn,)
+		yield ' * ' + _('Check the SSL certificates, proxy and firewall settings.')
+		yield ' * ' + _('Restart the LDAP service on the domain controller master either via "service slapd restart" on command line or with the UMC module "System services"')
+		if self._updates_available:
+			yield ' * ' + _('Install the latest software updates')