Change passwords for SQL Server services (Search Server 2008)

  • Article

Applies To: Microsoft Search Server 2008

 

Topic Last Modified: 2009-05-21

Note

Unless otherwise noted, the information in this article applies to both Microsoft Search Server 2008 and Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express.

Use the procedures in this article to change the passwords for the following services if the corresponding domain account password has been changed and the Microsoft Search Server 2008 or Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express deployment is using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008:

  • SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service   Used to run SQL Server. If the service is using a domain account, SQL Server will not run if the domain account password expires.

  • SQL Server Agent (MSSQLSERVER) service   Used by Search Server 2008 to truncate residual session state information that can accumulate and affect SQL Server performance. It is also used by various other applications. If the service is using a domain account, these applications cannot run tasks in SQL Server if the domain account password expires.

Use the following procedure to change the password for the following service if the corresponding domain account password has been changed and the Microsoft Search Server 2008 or Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express deployment is using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express:

  • SQL Server (OFFICESERVERS) service   Used to run SQL Server Express. If the service is using a domain account, SQL Server will not run if the domain account password expires. Note that this service uses the Network Service account by default.

Note

  • These procedures can be performed only after the password has been changed on the domain controller. The credentials entered are checked against those on the domain controller. If you enter the new password before the password has been changed on the domain controller, an error will result and the settings will not be changed.

  • To save the changes, you must restart the SQL Server service. This will cause the services that the SQL Server service provides to be momentary unavailable while the SQL Server service restarts.

  • Microsoft SQL Server services accounts and passwords are linked to Microsoft Windows user accounts and passwords. Changes in one location might require changes in the other.

Important

  • You should not change the passwords for any of the SQL Server service accounts when a failover cluster node is offline. If you have to do this, you will need to reset the password again by using SQL Server Configuration Manager when all nodes are back online.

  • Membership in the Administrators group on the local computer, or equivalent, is required to complete the following procedures.

To change passwords for SQL Server services

Change the password for the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service

  1. On the Start menu, select Administrative Tools, and then click Services. In Services, locate and right-click the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service, and then click Properties.

  2. In the Properties dialog box, on the Log On tab, type the new password in the Password box and in the Confirm password box.

  3. You must restart the service to save the changes. On the General tab, under Service status, click Stop to stop the service.

  4. When the service has stopped, click Start to start the service.

  5. Click OK to save the changes.

Change the password for the SQL Server Agent (MSSQLSERVER) service

  1. On the Start menu, select Administrative Tools, and then click Services. In Services, locate and right-click the SQL Server Agent (MSSQLSERVER) service, and then click Properties.

  2. In the Properties dialog box, on the Log On tab, type the new password in the Password box and in the Confirm password box.

  3. You must restart the service to save the changes. On the General tab, under Service status, click Stop to stop the service.

  4. When the service has stopped, click Start to start the service.

  5. Click OK to save the changes.

Change the password for the SQL Server (OFFICESERVERS) service

  1. On the Start menu, select Administrative Tools, and then click Services. In Services, locate and right-click the SQL Server (OFFICESERVERS) service, and then click Properties.

  2. In the Properties dialog box, on the Log On tab, type the new password in the Password box and in the Confirm password box.

  3. You must restart the service to save the changes. On the General tab, under Service status, click Stop to stop the service.

  4. When the service has stopped, click Start to start the service.

  5. Click OK to save the changes.

See Also

Concepts

Change passwords for administration accounts and service accounts (Search Server 2008)
Change passwords for Central Administration and the Timer service (Search Server 2008)
Change passwords for the Search service accounts (Search Server 2008)
Change the password for the Shared Services Provider (Search Server 2008)
Change the password for the content access account (Search Server 2008)
Change the password for an application pool identity (Search Server 2008)