How to change the System Logon Account credentials in Backup Exec if the password to the account is unknown.

 

For various reasons, the credentials stored in the Backup Exec System Logon Account may become unsynchronized from the actual domain or system credentials.  The problems that this can generate include:

 

For Backup Exec 2012 and later, logon account management window is available in Configuration and Settings -> Logon Accounts -> Manage logon Accounts.

To change the credentials stored in the Backup Exec System Logon Account, it is necessary to know the stored password.  If the password for the Backup Exec System Logon Account is unknown, no changes can be made to this account.  The System Logon Account will have to be deleted and recreated using the process outlined below.  

The System Logon Account shows up in the Logon Accounts window.  If System Logon Account is missing, click on the button on the right hand side of the window labeled System Account as this account is required to communicate to the Backup Exec services.

Note: The Windows SYSTEM ACCOUNT and the Backup Exec System Logon Account are unrelated entities. The Windows SYSTEM ACCOUNT is a special user account which does not have user-specified credentials.  The Backup Exec System Logon Account is a logon account that is user-specified during installation and required for proper Backup Exec functionality.  The button labeled System Account does not refer to the Windows account but is short for the Backup Exec System Logon Account.
 

Use the following steps to resolve the issue if the password on the System Logon Account is unknown:
 

3. Take note if the System Logon Account is the 'Default account', noted by a "Yes" in the Default column.
 

4. Delete the System Logon Account. This account cannot be deleted while it is marked as the 'Default account'.  Select the new account created in step 2 above to be the 'Default account' during these steps.
 

5. If prompted, choose to reassign the backup jobs to the account that was created in step 2.
 

6. Click on the System Account button on the right. 
 

7. Assign the correct credentials using DOMAIN\USERNAME format.
 

8. To make this default account select the checkbox  This is my default logon account and click Ok.
 

9. Delete the user account created in step 1 and reassign the backup jobs to System Logon Account when prompted.
 

 

Often, the Backup Exec services use the same credentials as stored in the System Logon Account and may also need to be changed.  Use the following steps to change the service credentials:

 

1. In Backup Exec, go to Configuration and Services > Backup Exec Services and choose Edit Credentials.
 

2. Select  Change service account credentials.
 

3. Enter the updated user credentials.
 

4. Restart the Backup Exec services.