Recovering a Forgotten Password in OpenLab CDS

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent OpenLab ChemStation, Agilent OpenLab EZChrom, Agilent OpenLab CDS. 

Issue

When users of OpenLab CDS forget their passwords, another user with the right privileges will reset their password, however, sometimes is the user with elevated privilege who has lost the password.

Background:

• Users do not remember their password; hence, they cannot log into OpenLab Control Panel.
• There are two scenarios:
  • Scenario 1: Users forget their password. They can ask the software administrators to reset their forgotten password in OpenLab Control Panel.
  • Scenario 2: Software administrators forget their own password.
    • If the authentication is set to Windows Domain, administrators will need to reach out to their IT department (Figure 1).
      

      
      
      Figure 1. Authentication provider is set to Windows Domain 
      The Control Panel uses a Windows domain to authenticate users and passwords
      
      

    • If the authentication is set to Internal, administrators can follow the provided instruction (Figure 4).
      

      
      
      Figure 2. Authentication provider is set to Internal 
      The Control Panel's internal database stores users and passwords
      
      

• The instructions in this article apply to a standalone workstation system only.
• When internal authentication is enabled for OpenLab software, by default there is a 5 minute timed lock out for any account where the password is entered wrong three times. After 5 minutes, three more login attempts may be done (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Security Policy in Control Panel

Steps to Follow

1. Look for the SHAREDSERVICES.SDF file, or SHAREDSERVICES.FDB. The file name will depend on the specific software version installed.
   The SHAREDSERVICES.SDF (or FDB) file can be found in the following folders: 
   
   • For Windows 7 and Windows 10: C:\ProgramData\Agilent\OLSS (Figure 4).
   • For Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Agilent\OLSS.
     

     
     
     Figure 4. SHARESERVICES file location
     
     

     Tips: Hidden items will need to be enabled from the File Explorer View menu in order to see the ProgramData folder.

2. Contact Agilent Local Support. They will provide a copy of OLCDS Password Reset Authorization Form.
   
   • Administrator user accounts to be recovered must be specified in the form.
   • Attach the filled-in and signed OLCDS Password Reset Authorization Form and the SHAREDSERVICES.SDF (or FDB) file to the Agilent service representative.
3. The Agilent Local Support will work with the Lab Informatics team to modify your database so that the new password will be the same as the admin password on an Agilent PC bundle.
4. To install this new SHAREDSERVICES.SDF (or FDB) file, you must stop the Agilent OpenLab Shared Services. See the article How to Restart Agilent OpenLab Services in Windows 10 for detailed instructions. 
5. Browse to C:\ProgramData\Agilent\OLSS. Rename the original SHAREDSERVICES.SDF (or FDB) to SHAREDSERVICES.SDF.original or SHAREDSERVICES.FDB.original.
6. Copy the new attached file to C:\ProgramData\Agilent\OLSS. Change, or verify that the name of the file gets changed to SHAREDSERVICES.SDF (or FDB).
7. Restart the Agilent OpenLab Shared Services. 
8. Relaunch OpenLab Control Panel and log in with user and password provided by the Agilent support team. The system may prompt for a new password. 

Learn how to effectively operate your Agilent OpenLab Chromatography Data System: Agilent OpenLab Help & Learning Online