Configure a Connector Service Account

In Windows 2000, services typically run under the account of the computer on which they're installed. This account is called the local system account (LocalSystem), and its password is created and recycled by Windows 2000.

By default, this service account allows access to the Exchange mailbox, public folder stores, and other Windows 2000 resources for performing mail transfer and directory synchronization.

Note   In previous versions of Exchange, the Exchange Administrator account also had such permissions. However, by providing the connector with a Windows 2000 account associated with a computer rather than a user, problems resulting from lost passwords can be reduced.

If you want to run a connector under a different account than the local system account, add the account to the Exchange Servers group, and then configure the connector services to log on as the new account rather than as the local system account.

To add the account to the Exchange Servers group:

1. Start Active Directory Users and Computers
   On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. Navigate to Users.

   Active Directory Users and Computers

   1. Domain (containing the Exchange Servers group you want to modify)
   2. Users
3. In the details pane, click Exchange Servers.
4. On the Members tab, click Add.
5. In Look In, select a domain or the entire directory.
6. In the list box, select the service account (for example, Administrator) that you want to add to the Exchange Servers group. Click OK, and then click Apply to apply the change.

Now you must configure the connector services so that they use this account.

To configure the services:

1. Start Services
   On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
2. Right-click the services used by the connector, and then click Properties.
3. On the Log On tab, click This Account, and then type the account name and password.
4. Click OK, and then restart the service.