SQL Engine Service Account

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SQL Engine Service Account

ep_satheesh

SSC Rookie

Points: 48
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March 3, 2010 at 10:34 am

#141640

Hi,
My SQL Engine is running under a windows account and I am planning to change the password of it. For me it is near to impossible to restart the SQL Service without downtime. In msdn, I found that the password change will take effect immediately once I make the change in SQL Server Configuration Manager and in some other places it says that it is mandatory to restart the service. Can anyone confirm whether it is required to restart the SQL Service or NOT? And what are the practical challenge I may face, if I am denying the logon rights for the service account.
Regards,
Satheesh.

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Luke L SSC-Dedicated Points: 35547 More actions · Answer 1

Buck Woody goes into this in pretty good detail at the following... http://blogs.msdn.com/buckwoody/archive/2010/02/18/restarting-the-sql-server-service-account-why.aspx

Long story short, yes you need to restart the services once you change the password.

-Luke.

To help us help you read this[/url]For better help with performance problems please read this[/url]

ep_satheesh SSC Rookie Points: 48 More actions · Answer 2

Hi Luke,

Thanks a lot for your response.

But the MSDN status that The password takes effect immediately, without restarting SQL Server.. in http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms365941(SQL.90).aspx. There is my confusion.

GRE (Gethyn Ellis) SSCrazy Eights Points: 9602 More actions · Answer 3

I have never been able to change the service account password without a restart of the service.

edit Accroding to Buck Woody's post this is not so much of a problem in 2008 onwards but for 2005 a restart looks like its needed

Gethyn Elliswww.gethynellis.com

Luke L SSC-Dedicated Points: 35547 More actions · Answer 4

I can't say that I've ever done it without recycling the service. Even if it's possible, I'll still always stop/start the service because that way you know that you typed the new password correctly. If it doesn't restart you did something wrong.

I get the need to minimize downtime etc, and depending on your SLA and business needs it might be something that has to wait until your next patch cycle, but I would think restarting the SQL Service would be fairly quick.

I suppose a good test for your environment would be for you to change it on a Test/Dev server first (which you should probably be doing anyhow right?). I'd be interested to see how that test comes out.

-Luke.

To help us help you read this[/url]For better help with performance problems please read this[/url]

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281344 More actions · Answer 5

As Gethyn and Luke have said, I also restart the service with Password change. I normally schedule this kind of change during a maintenance window. This is based on SQL2005 and older and not on 2008.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
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