Service Account Password Update Procedures - Ghost Solution Suite

Products

• Deployment Solution
• Ghost Solution Suite

Issue/Introduction

When a Windows service account or database user account used by Ghost Solution Suite (GSS) undergoes a password change (often due to security policy), multiple configurations within the GSS environment must be updated. Failure to update all locations typically results in agent "Connect Failed" errors after boot automation or service startup failures.

Environment

• Product: Ghost Solution Suite (GSS) 3.x
• Database: SQL Server / ODBC
• Components: PXE Server, Boot Disk Creator, Automation Folders

Resolution

Follow these steps to ensure all GSS components are updated with the new credentials:

1. Primary Service Account

• On the GSS server, navigate to Control Panel > Altiris Deployment Server (or GSS Server Settings).
• Click Account and enter the new password.
• Restart services and verify that the "Altiris Deployment Server Data Manager" and "DB Management" services start successfully. If they fail, manually update the Log On tab in Windows Services (services.msc).

2. Database Connectivity (ODBC)

• Open ODBC Data Sources (32-bit) on the server.
• Update the System DSN used by GSS to ensure it can still communicate with the SQL database using the new password.

3. PXE Server Configuration

• Open the PXE Configuration Utility from the GSS console.
• Highlight your configuration and click Edit > Edit Boot Image.
• Click Edit at the bottom to start from Step 1. Progress to the Network Connection step and update User Name and Password if the password for the account used was changed.
• Enter the new password, complete the wizard to rebuild the image, and click Save.

4. Boot Disk Creator and Automation Folders

• In Boot Disk Creator, right-click your configuration and select Edit.
• Navigate to the Network Connection step and update User Name and Password if the password for the account used was changed.
• Note: Any Automation Folders already installed on endpoints must be reinstalled to receive this update.

5. Jobs and Tasks

• Navigate to Tools > Options > Task Password.
• Update the password for accounts used in tasks such as Run Script, Distribute Software, or Capture Personality.