Change the Patch Manager service account or password

During the initial setup, Patch Manager creates a local service account used to start the EminentWare Data Grid Server service running on the Patch Manager host server. This service starts automatically at system startup and manages all aspects of the Patch Manager server, except the Microsoft SQL Server database resources.

To change the service password or account, verify the Patch Manager server settings. When you are finished, change the password.

You will need access to SQL Server Management Studio to add a new user to the EminentWare Database.

Verify the server settings

To change the account that starts the EminentWare Data Grid Server service, verify the following on the Patch Manager server.

  • Ensure that the service account you plan to use includes sysadmin rights to the EminentWare database.
  • In Local Security Policy > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment > Log on as a service, the service account is listed in the Log on as a service Properties window.
  • In the Local Security Policy, the following settings are disabled in Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options (In Microsoft Windows Server 2012, search Local Security Policy):
    • Windows Server 2003: Network access: Do not allow storage of credentials or .NET Passports for network authentication
    • Windows Server 2008 and 2012: Network access: Do not allow storage of passwords and credentials for network authentication

  • The service account has Full Control on the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\EminentWare registry key.

  • The service account is in the local Administrators group.

Change the password

Warning: SolarWinds strongly recommends that you back up your registry before making any edits to your system registry. You should only edit the registry if you are experienced and confident in doing so. Using a registry editor incorrectly can cause serious issues with your operating system, which could require you to reinstall your operating system to correct them. SolarWinds cannot guarantee resolutions to any damage resulting from making registry edits.
  1. Verify that you have access to the SQL Server Management Studio.
  2. Close the Patch Manager Administrator Console.
  3. Open the Services window and stop the EminentWare Data Grid Server service.
  4. Clear the MEKey and MPKey strings in the Registry.
    1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit).
    2. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\EminentWare\Data Grid Service\Roles\Application and select Data.
    3. Select MEKey, and then click Edit > Modify.
    4. Clear the Value data field, and then click OK.
    5. Repeat step c and d for the MPKey string.
    6. On the Patch Manager server, log in to Local Users and Groups.
    7. Add the new user to the Admin group for the Patch Manager server.

    8. Assign the new user a password.

      If you are changing the existing EminentWare Data grid service user password, select the Admin group and change the existing password.

  5. Log in to the SQL Server Management Studio.
  6. Add the new user to the EminentWare Database.
    1. Log in to the database.
    2. Expand the security tab.
    3. Right click Security and select New Login.
    4. Assign the targeted user SA rights to the database.
    5. Close SQL Server Management Studio.
  7. Change the password or account used to start the EminentWare Data Grid Server service.
    1. Open the Services window and select the EminentWare Data Grid Server service.
    2. Right-click the service and select Properties.
    3. Click the Log On tab.
    4. Make the necessary changes to the account and/or password, and then click OK.
  8. Start the EminentWare Data Grid Server service.
  9. Open the Patch Manager Administrator Console.
  10. In the navigation pane, expand Patch Manager System Configuration and select Security and User Management.
  11. Click the Credentials tab.
  12. Update the Credentials for ALL accounts.
    1. On the Credentials tab, right-click a credential and select Change Password.
    2. Enter and confirm the new password, and then click Save.
    3. Repeat step a and step b for the remaining credentials.
  13. If you set up email notifications, change the password stored for that task. Otherwise, go to step 14.
    1. In the navigation pane, expand Patch Manager System Configuration > Patch Manager Servers > and select Application Servers.
    2. Select the application server.
    3. Click the Application Server Settings tab.
    4. In the Setting Name column, select Email Configuration: SMTP Server logon user password.
    5. In the Application Servers pane, click Modify Setting.
    6. Enter the new password, and then click OK.
  14. If you set a password in Proxy Settings for Software Publishing, perform the following steps. Otherwise, go to step 15.
    1. In the navigation pane, expand Administration and Reporting and select Software Publishing.
    2. Click Synchronization Settings in the Actions pane.
    3. Click the Proxy Settings tab and update the password.
    4. Click OK.
  15. If you set a proxy password for your Application Servers, perform the following steps. Otherwise, you are finished.
    1. In the navigation pane, expand Patch Manager System Configuration > Patch Manager Servers and select Application Servers.
    2. In the center pane, select the application server and click the Application Server Settings tab.
    3. Select the Password setting.
    4. Click the Action menu, and then select Modify Setting.
    5. Enter the new password, and then click OK.