Prevent Users from Changing Windows Credentials if Pro is Offline

[KatherineSotnik]

While working in ArcGIS Pro offline I changed my Windows password, which orphaned my Pro user license. ArcGIS Pro login would not accept my new password. Therefore, I was unable to log in to ArcGIS Online and set Pro to online mode. Admin users saw the license as disconnected under licensing activities. We called Esri and received a case number, then Esri reset my license the next business day. It would be helpful if there was a pop-up from Windows or Pro warning users not to change Windows credentials while pro is in offline mode. Esri should add documentation indicating this potential problem.

[KoryKramer]

ArcGIS Pro determines which named user took the licenses offline - it is agnostic to the Windows user’s password. 

Since you have a case open with Technical Support, you could work with the analyst to go to the portal manager (ArcGIS Online or Enterprise organization from which the license was checked out) and determine the username that took the licenses offline and the machine (Pro alias).  If it’s on the same machine, verify that another user did not take the license offline. This could be the cause, though we would need the above investigation to be done. It is still possible the offline license became corrupt for an unknown reason.  We are not ruling that out.  There’s just not enough information to make that assumption.  However, changing the Windows’s password should not affect the offline license. 

Since @SeanCarson @StellaSpring and @CynthiaGeskes have given kudos to this idea, can we assume that you have encountered broken offline licenses after changing a Windows password? If so, please comment here as this would need to be investigated as a bug rather than an idea.

Thank you. 

[SeanCarson]

Kory,

Speaking on behalf of @StellaSpring and @KatherineSotnik, we three are referencing the same incident. It appears that changing a windows password on a machine that currently has ArcGIS Pro in offline mode causes the license to be orphaned. I agree, this sounds like a bug. Users are changing windows credentials frequently for securtiy reasons. If the ArcGIS Pro licensing (in offline mode) is somehow tied to a machine + windows credential, this may be problematic.

Sean Carson

[KoryKramer]

Thanks for clarifying @SeanCarson 

FWIW I just took a Pro license offline, then changed my Windows password. Signed out of my machine, signed back in and Pro opens fine.

So changing the Windows user password in and of itself has no effect on the offline license. There may be something else going on, so if you and your colleagues find that something about your environment/licensing setup is disrupted by changing a Windows password, please do report that to Technical Support to be investigated. Thanks

[SeanCarson]

Thank you for testing/verifying that this is working @KoryKramer. We have documented our issue with Esri Support via Esri Case #03116336. If we continue to encounter issues related to this, we'll work with Esri Support.

Sean

[KoryKramer]

Thanks, Sean!