UNC tests show unknown result when HM is started as service

pwcmalta · Post by **pwcmalta** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:05 am

We are using Advance Hostmonitor 6.52 Standard Edition and we are having a problem with some UNC tests showing unknown result when Hostmonitor is started as a service in Windows 2000 Server SP4. If Hostmonitor is strated as an application the UNC tests are passed succesfully.

Can you please advice.

KS-Soft Europe · Post by **KS-Soft Europe** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:33 am

What account do you use to start HostMonitor's service? We recommend to start HostMonitor's service under admin's account. You may specify appropriate account using menu "Options" > "Service" tab.

What error do you see in Reply field? You may enable "Show errors description in "Reply" field when cannot access resource" option in "Options" > "Miscellaneous" tab > "UNC test related options" area. With this option enabled, HostMonitor will put error description in "Reply" field in case "UNC" test cannot access to resource.

Regards,
Max

pwcmalta · Post by **pwcmalta** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:14 am

Hi Max

Thank you for your reply

Account is administrator and is set in "Options" > "Service" tab.

I enabled the "Show errors description in "Reply" field when cannot access resource" option and I am having "Logon Failure". I checked the login and password in the "Options" > "Service" tab. I also checked the login and password in the particular test to no avail.

Thank you again for your help.

Regards

KS-Soft Europe · Post by **KS-Soft Europe** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:32 pm

You should assign "Logon as service" privilege to the user account, you have specified in "Options" > "Service" tab. You may do it using "Local Security Policy" applet (Start > Run > secpol.msc): Security Settings > Local Policies > User Right Assignment > Logon as service.

Do not forget restart the HostMonitor's service, please.

Regards,
Max

KS-Soft · Post by **KS-Soft** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:53 pm

Another possible reason of the problem - when HostMonitor calls Windows API to establish connection to another Windows system, sometimes(?) Windows uses current user account instead of directly specified account. In other words: you have specified user name using "Connect as" option of the test, however Windows may use account that is used to run HostMonitor (service or application).
Unfortunately we did not find any explanation of this problem in Microsoft manuals, so we don't know for sure when exactly it happens

Is account used to start HostMonitor (account that you have specified on Service page in the Options dialog) exist on remote system (system that returns Logon Failure error)? You may try to create special account with administrators rights on local system, create the same account (the same username and password) on remote systems and setup this account on Service page in the Options dialog , it may help.

Regards
Alex

pwcmalta · Post by **pwcmalta** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:22 am

Hi Alex,

Please note that when I am starting HM as service the log on settings are "Log on as Local System account" and "Allow service to interact with desktop" is enabled, therefore I didn't specified any account in the HM Service settings. Also note that I am logged in with domain administrator account which have admisnistrator rights on all remote servers being trested out.

Do you suggest to set the log on as Domain Adminstrator account in the HM service log on settings ?

Thank you again for your advice.

Kind Regards

KS-Soft Europe · Post by **KS-Soft Europe** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:31 am

pwcmalta wrote:Do you suggest to set the log on as Domain Adminstrator account in the HM service log on settings ?

Correct. However, do not change the account using the standard windows "Services" applet. If you do so, HostMonitor may be unable to interact with the desktop. You have to use HostMonitor's menu "Options" > "Service" tab to specify Domain Adminstrator account to start HostMonitor's service.
Quote from the manual:
http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... tm#Service
==========================
When HostMonitor starts as a service, it uses the system account (as all interactive services). But this account may not have all the necessary permissions, so some tests will not work correctly (UNC test, "disk free space" test for shared drives, "CPU Usage" test for remote machines, etc). If you need these tests, you will need to assign a special user account on the Service page in the Options dialog. In this case HostMonitor will impersonate the security context of the user. Do not change the account using the system utility "Services". If you do so, HostMonitor may be unable to interact with the desktop.
==========================

Regards,
Max

pwcmalta · Post by **pwcmalta** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:01 am

I managed to sort it out by adding the domainname\domainadmininstrator account in the Service page in the Options dialog of HM.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Kind regards

KS-Soft Europe · Post by **KS-Soft Europe** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:13 am

pwcmalta wrote:I managed to sort it out by adding the domainname\domainadmininstrator account in the Service page in the Options dialog of HM.

Glad to hear that.

pwcmalta wrote:Thanks for your help and advice.

You are welcome.

Regards,
Max