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Q318396: Password Length Limitations for SMS Service Accounts

Article: Q318396
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): 2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv
Last Modified: 27-FEB-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0 
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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:

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Keywords          : kbenv 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS200
Version           : :2.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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