Change the default PostgreSQL database credentials

Complete this procedure before you upgrade to PostgreSQL 13.3. Otherwise, you will be locked out of the database because the conversion disables your default database user name and password.

When you install WHD with the embedded PostgreSQL database, the application creates a new database with a default user name and password. The user credentials are stored in the Database Connection screen at Setup > General > Database.

After you complete the installation, a message displays in the administrator console stating that the embedded database is not secure. To prevent unauthorized database access, do the following:

Open the Database Connection screen.
Create a new database login role.

Your new credentials will replace the default WHD user name and password you created during the installation procedure.
Change the WHD database ownership to the new role.
Update the database connection in the Database Connection screen.
Restart WHD, log in, and verify the new database connection in the Database Connection screen.

Your default database credentials are protected from unauthorized users by the new login role.

This section describes how to change the credentials for a Windows, Linux, and macOS deployment.

Change the database credentials for a Windows deployment

Perform the following procedures to change the database credentials for a WHD deployment running Windows Server.

Open the Database Connection screen

Log in to WHD as an administrator.
Click Setup > General > Database.

The Database Connection screen displays in the console.
Click Backup Now to back up your PostgreSQL database.

A message displays in the console, stating that your database was backed up to:

<WebHelpDesk>/pgsq9/Backups
Leave this screen open. Do not close this screen or log out of WHD.

Create a new login role

Select a strong login role name and password to apply to your PostgreSQL database.

Your new credentials will replace the default WHD user name and password you created during the installation procedure.
Log in to the WHD server as an administrator.
Open File Explorer and navigate to:

C:\Program Files\WebHelpDesk\pgsql9\bin
Locate and run pgAdmin3 as Administrator.

pgAdmin3 is a management tool for PostgreSQL, and is included with your WHD installation. This tool is a database interface and is not the database program.
In the pgAdmin III toolbar , click to open the New Server Registration window.
Complete the fields in the Properties tab.
1. In the Name field, enter a name for this connection.
  
  For example:
  
  WHD38
2. In the Host field, enter localhost, as the PostgreSQL database is stored on the WHD server.
3. In the Port field, enter 20293.
  
  This is the default port for communications with the PostgreSQL database.
4. Leave the Service field blank.
5. Click the Maintenance DB drop-down menu and select postgres.
6. In the Username and password fields, enter whd.
  
  These are the original database credentials created during the installation procedure. You will replace these credentials in a later step.
7. Accept the remaining defaults, and click OK.
  
  The new connection displays in the Object browser column under Server Groups > Servers.
  
  If the connection does not display in the window, double-click Server Groups.
In the Object browser column, maximize your new connection (for example, WHD38) and then maximize Login Roles.

The whd role displays under Login Roles. This is the database login role created during the installation procedure.
Create a new login role.
1. Right-click Login Roles and select New Login Role to display the New Login Role dialog box.
2. In the Properties tab, enter a name in the Role name field.
  For example:
  shawn
3. Click the Definition tab.
4. Enter a strong password in the Password fields.
  Record your new login role name and password and keep them in a safe place. You will need this information to update the Database Connection screen in WHD and make any role modifications in the future.
5. Select a date and time in the future when this role expires.
  Note the expiration date in your personal calendar so you can update it in the future.
6. Click the Role Privileges tab.
7. Select all privileges.
8. Click OK.
  The new role displays under Login Roles in the Object browser.
Verify that your new login role has the same privileges as the whd database role.
1. Under Login Roles, right click whd and select Properties.
2. In the Login Role whd window, click the Role privileges tab.
3. Confirm that the Role privileges for the whd role match those with your new role.
4. Click Cancel.

Change the WHD database ownership

In the Object browser under Databases, right-click whd and select Properties.
In the Database whd window, click the Owner drop-down menu and select your new role.
Click OK.
Close pgAdmin3.

Update the database connection settings

Switch back to the WHD Database Connection screen you opened at the beginning of this procedure.
In the Username field, enter the login name you created for your new login role.
In the Password field, enter the password you created for your new login role.
(Optional) Select your backup options.
1. In the Backup Schedule field, select the days of the week and the time of day when WHD will automatically back up your database.
  All backups are written by default to the pgsq/9/Backups directory under the Web Help Desk home directory. You can
2. In the Backup Folder field, select a backup folder or accept the default section.
  By default, all backups are written to the pgsq/9/Backups directory under the Web Help Desk home directory. If desired, you can enter a path to a custom folder.
  All backups are created based on the backup schedule and named based on the backup time. For example, a scheduled backup performed on March 17, 2021 at 2:30 AM would be named as follows:
  B_2021_03_17-02_30_00
  It is your responsibility to copy the database backup files to a network or tape drive. Perform all backups before applying any update to Web Help Desk.
3. Click the drop-down menu and select the number of backups.
Click Save.

A message displays in the console, stating that the connection settings were saved and will take effect when you restart the application.
Restart WHD.

Verify the new database connection

Restart WHD.
Log in to WHD as an administrator.
Click Setup > General > Database.
In the Database Connection screen, verify that the Username field contains the new login role.

Revert back to your original settings

After you restart WHD and you encounter an issue that prevents you from logging in to the web console, you can revert back to your original settings.

Stop WHD.
Open File Explorer and navigate to:

C:\Program Files\WebHelpDesk\pgsql9\bin
Locate and run pgAdmin3 as Administrator.
In the Object browser, maximize Servers > <your_new_connection> > Databases.
Right-click whd and select Properties.
In the Database whd window, click the Owner drop-down menu and select whd.
Click OK.
Open File Explorer.
Navigate to:

C:\Program Files\WebHelpDesk\conf\
Locate and delete the whd.properties file.

This will delete the login name and database information you created in an earlier step. Your existing database remains intact.
Start WHD.
When prompted, select Use Embedded PostgreSQL database (recommended) and click Next.

WHD starts.
Log in to WHD using your administrator credentials.
Click Setup > General > Database.

The Database Connection screen displays with your original username and password.

Change the database credentials for a Linux deployment

Perform the following procedures to change the database credentials for a WHD deployment running CentOS, Fedora, or Red Hat Enterprise Linux.