Hi,I tried to create a new web application 'create or extend web application' link in Application Management tab of SharePoint 3.0 Central Administration. It keeps on showing 'Operation in Progress' for a long time. So I checked event viewer for any error.The error was 'Unhandled Access Exception', the details of which is shown below:Application Pool identity of Central Administration is NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE. Please let me know if this Application Pool identityshould be a domain account. Kindly clarify. Event Type:InformationEvent Source:ASP.NET 2.0.50727.0Event Category:Web Event Event ID:1314Date:10/31/2008Time:8:34:14 AMUser:N/AComputer:Computer123Description:Event code: 4011 Event message: An unhandled access exception has occurred. Event time: 10/31/2008 8:34:14 AM Event time (UTC): 10/31/2008 3:04:14 AM Event ID: 3b4a66afa3df4894adfb769a146fc42f Event sequence: 70 Event occurrence: 1 Event detail code: 0 Application information: Application domain: /LM/W3SVC/1908147790/Root-1-128698740005112225 Trust level: WSS_Minimal Application Virtual Path: / Application Path: C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\wss\VirtualDirectories\41076\ Machine name:Computer123Process information: Process ID: 6840 Process name: w3wp.exe Account name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE Request information: Request URL: http://Computer123:15882/_admin/extendvs.aspx Request path: /_admin/extendvs.aspx User host address: 10.164.129.61 User:domain1\a487 Is authenticated: True Authentication Type: NTLM Thread account name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE Custom event details: For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.Kindly help me on this.Regards,Bala

Hi Bala,yes, i think you should use adedicated domain account for SharePoints services and pools because of security, troubleshooting, standard etc.How to change service accounts and service account passwords in SharePoint Server 2007 and in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934838 Plan for administrative and service accounts (Office SharePoint Server):http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263445.aspx Plan for administrative and service accounts (Windows SharePoint Services):http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288210.aspxIf you need to use "network service", then make sure that the account has membership in SQL Server's "DBcreators and SecurityAdmin" server roles.Hope this helps!Cheers,Daniel Bugday Web: http://www.sharepointforum.com/ Blog: http://www.sharepointforum.com/en-US/Blog/

Hi,your suggestion has helped me.Thanks for the help.Thanks,Bala

Run the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard once. It solved my problem.

Run the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard once. It works for me.