DOCUMENT:Q318396 27-FEB-2002 [sms] TITLE :Password Length Limitations for SMS Service Accounts PRODUCT :Microsoft Systems Management Server PROD/VER::2.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbenv ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= It is a good idea to limit the length of passwords for accounts that are used by Systems Management Server (SMS) to 14 characters, even though Microsoft Windows NT-based domain and local accounts can use very long passwords (in some cases, up to 256 characters). Using passwords that are not longer than 14 characters is a good idea because: - SMS may try to encrypt the password, but SMS cannot encrypt passwords that are longer than 14 characters. - The Password box in the SMS Administrator console is limited to 14 characters. MORE INFORMATION ================ These SMS service accounts have a 14-character limit for the password: - The SMS Service account - The Windows NT Client Software Installation account - The Sender Address account - The SMS Client Remote Installation account - The Client Connection account - The Site System Connection Account You can specify passwords of up to 36 characters for the SMS service accounts during SMS Setup. However, using more than 14 characters in a password causes problems after the SMS components begin operations. The symptoms of these problems may include account lockouts, SMS components that cannot access resources, and account authorization errors. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbenv Technology : kbSMSSearch kbSMS200 Version : :2.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.