Help for PDQ Inventory > Configuring PDQ Inventory > Setting up Options

The PDQ Inventory background service, PDQInventory, is a Windows service that processes all scans and other background tasks. By default, the PDQInventory service starts when you boot the computer where the PDQ Inventory console is installed.

IMPORTANT: If the service isn’t running, or isn't using the proper credentials, then all scans will be stuck in a queued state until the background service is restarted. Additionally, if the background service doesn't have proper credentials, the console itself will not run and command line tools will not run either.

NOTE: If you are using a Proxy Server, by default, PDQ Inventory uses the proxy settings of the PDQInventory background serive user. If your organization uses a Group Policy Object (GPO) to push proxy information and the PDQInventory background service user runs under a service account, you need to configure the Proxy Server settings so the PDQInventory background service user can access proxy server to process scans and other background tasks.

To access the Background Service settings, click Options > Background Service.

Options	Description
Start Service	Starts the background service, PDQInventory. NOTE: You can also start PDQInventory from the Services window (Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or services.msc). You can also start the service via an elevated command prompt (cmd.exe run as Administrator) using either NET START PDQInventory or PDQInventory BackgroundService -Start.
Stop Service	Stops the background service, PDQInventory. NOTE: You can also stop PDQInventory from the Services window (Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or services.msc). You can also stop the service via an elevated command prompt (cmd.exe run as Administrator) using either NET STOP PDQInventory or PDQInventory BackgroundService -Stop.
User	Lists the Windows credentials used to run the background service, PDQInventory. You initially define this account when you install PDQ Inventory. To change the credentials used to run the PDQInventory service: 1.Click Change. 2.Click Add Credentials. 3.Enter the domain name, username and password of a Windows account that has administrator rights on the console computer. This account needs to have the Log On as a Service privilege (see below). If this privilege is not already granted for the specified credentials, then PDQ Inventory attempts to grant it. Make sure that any GPOs used in your organization do not remove this privilege. NOTE: You do not have to specify a domain for a local account. If you choose not to run the background service as a domain administrator, either leave the domain field blank or enter a period. 4.(Optional) Provide a description to help you identify the credentials in the menu. 5.(Optional) Click Test Credentials to test the credentials you have entered. 6.Click OK. Log On As a Service Privilege The Windows Log On As a Service privilege is required for user accounts that are used to run Windows services. PDQ Inventory uses two Windows services: PDQInventory (i.e. the Background Service). The Log On As a Service privilege is not granted automatically to any users, including administrators. PDQ Inventory attempts to grant this privilege when it is needed. Generally this is successful; however, some environments may explicitly deny the Log On As a Service privilege to all users. In these cases, you need to create an exception (usually via Group Policy) for the credentials that are used to run the PDQInventory service.

Options

Description

Start Service

Starts the background service, PDQInventory.

NOTE: You can also start PDQInventory from the Services window (Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or services.msc). You can also start the service via an elevated command prompt (cmd.exe run as Administrator) using either NET START PDQInventory or PDQInventory BackgroundService -Start.

Stop Service

Stops the background service, PDQInventory.

NOTE: You can also stop PDQInventory from the Services window (Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or services.msc). You can also stop the service via an elevated command prompt (cmd.exe run as Administrator) using either NET STOP PDQInventory or PDQInventory BackgroundService -Stop.

User

Lists the Windows credentials used to run the background service, PDQInventory. You initially define this account when you install PDQ Inventory.

To change the credentials used to run the PDQInventory service:

1.Click Change.

2.Click Add Credentials.

3.Enter the domain name, username and password of a Windows account that has administrator rights on the console computer. This account needs to have the Log On as a Service privilege (see below). If this privilege is not already granted for the specified credentials, then PDQ Inventory attempts to grant it. Make sure that any GPOs used in your organization do not remove this privilege.

NOTE: You do not have to specify a domain for a local account. If you choose not to run the background service as a domain administrator, either leave the domain field blank or enter a period.

4.(Optional) Provide a description to help you identify the credentials in the menu.

5.(Optional) Click Test Credentials to test the credentials you have entered.

6.Click OK.

Log On As a Service Privilege

The Windows Log On As a Service privilege is required for user accounts that are used to run Windows services.

PDQ Inventory uses two Windows services: PDQInventory (i.e. the Background Service).

The Log On As a Service privilege is not granted automatically to any users, including administrators. PDQ Inventory attempts to grant this privilege when it is needed. Generally this is successful; however, some environments may explicitly deny the Log On As a Service privilege to all users. In these cases, you need to create an exception (usually via Group Policy) for the credentials that are used to run the PDQInventory service.

Background Service Window

Background Service Window

See also