Reporting Service 2008 Microsoft.ReportingServices.WmiPro vider.WMIProviderException
I was changing the Service Account to use Build-In Account to Local System. In "Backup Encryption Key" prompt, I entered file location and the password. After I click on OK to the "Backup Encryption Key" prompt, the following error message shows up:Microsoft.ReportingServices.WmiProvider.WMIProviderException: The report server cannot decrypt the symmetric key that is used to access sensitive or encrypted data in a report server database. You must either restore a backup key or delete all encrypted content. I want to ask what is this mean? And how to resolve it?I am using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Service.ThanksPeggy
December 19th, 2009 2:05am

Hi Peggy,Reporting Services uses encryption keys to secure credentials and connection information that is stored in a report server database. In Reporting Services, encryption is supported through a combination of public, private, and symmetric keys that are used to protect sensitive data. The symmetric key is created during report server initialization when you install or configure the report server, and it is used by the report server to encrypt sensitive data that is stored in the report server. Public and private keys are created by the operating system, and they are used to protect the symmetric key. A public and private key pair is created for each report server instance that stores sensitive data in a report server database. It is necessary to restore the backup copy of the encryption key when any of the following events occur: Changing the Report Server Windows service account name or resetting the password. When you use the Reporting Services Configuration tool, backing up the key is part of a service account name change operation. Note: Resetting the password is not the same as changing the password. A password reset requires permission to overwrite account information on the domain controller. Password resets are performed by a system administrator when you forget or do not know a particular password. Only password resets require symmetric key restoration. Periodically changing an account password does not require you to reset the symmetric key. Renaming the computer or instance that hosts the report server (a report server instance is based on a SQL Server instance name). Migrating a report server installation or configuring a report server to use a different report server database. Recovering a report server installation due to hardware failure. In this case, we need to restore a backup key, then change the service account. After changing the services account, please backup a new key. That will solve the issue.Please feel free to ask, if you have any more questions.Thanks,Jin ChenJin Chen - MSFT
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 23rd, 2009 11:05am

Go to: Reporting Services Configuration Manager. Encryption Keys (on the left). Delete Encrypted content... Press Delete. Now, try again to add your user in the Service Account tab (on the left). Hope this would help. ------------------- A.K.
January 3rd, 2012 10:05am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics