SharePoint 2010 user profile synchronization on a 'Standalone' environment
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/983061/
Consider the following scenario:
- You run Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 in a single-server environment. (This is known as a stand-alone installation.)
- You try to start the User Profile Synchronization service.
- You provide a password for the NT Authority\Network Service account.
In this scenario, the User Profile Synchronization service does not start.
reference: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff681014.aspx
How to check server role of SharePoint:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\14.0\WSS\ServerRole
-SINGLESERVER : Stand-alone
-WFE : Farm Stand-alone
-APPLICATION : Farm Complete