Create the Windows account for the connector

You must create a Windows account to host the connector. There are two types of accounts:

• Windows domain accounts are the more secure option for hosting the connector. In a domain environment, a domain controller performs authentication for centralized control.

• Windows workgroups are the less secure option for hosting the connector. In a workgroup environment, all computers are peers and authentication is performed locally.

  Note: For best security, run the connector on a host that is a member of a Windows domain and use a domain account for its identity.

1. Determine whether the connector host is part of a Windows domain or workgroup. Computer domain information can be found in the Control Panel system information, in the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings area.

2. Create either a dedicated domain account, or local accounts for the connector.

   Note: The account should not be a member of the host's local administrators group.

   • If your computer is part of a domain, create a dedicated domain account for the connector.

     You must have domain administrator privileges to create domain accounts.

   • If your computer is part of a workgroup, create identical local accounts on every machine that hosts either the connector, the PI Data Archive server, or PI AF server, using the same user name and password for each account.

     You must have local administrator privileges to create local accounts.