Passwords and an Active Directory logon

The HelpMaster Active Directory module does not synchronize passwords. The password for a HelpMaster client and the password used for a Windows login (logging into your computer) are two different things. Although a user can manually set a HelpMaster client password to match a Windows password, these passwords will never be synchronized by the Active Directory module.

How does the automatic HelpMaster AD logon work?

When the HelpMaster Active Directory module synchronizes Windows AD accounts with HelpMaster clients, it stores the unique Windows SID (Security Identifier for the web portal) and Active Directory Email Address (For the Desktop) of an Active Directory account against the corresponding HelpMaster client record in the HelpMaster database. Whenever HelpMaster is initially run and Active Directory logon is enabled, it first checks to see if the SID or email address of the currently logged in (to Windows) user can be matched with any SID or email address stored in the HelpMaster database. If a match is found against a staff record, the logon screen is bypassed, and the HelpMaster client matching the SID or email address of the person logged onto Windows is automatically logged into HelpMaster. The Windows password never plays a role in this operation. It is based purely on the Windows Security Identifier or Active Directory Email Address.

Automatic login with Entra ID synchronized accounts

With Entra ID synchronization, again the passwords are disconnected and the Entra ID properties Object ID (GUID) or Email address identify if the AD logged in user has a HelpMaster user that matches.

What if I want to log onto HelpMaster as someone other than the person logged onto Windows?

Immediately after you start the HelpMaster Desktop, hold down the Shift key during the “PRD Software” logo splash screen. This will display the regular HelpMaster logon screen. You will then be able to login using any HelpMaster Staff user that you know the password for.

Things to remember

• The HelpMaster username / password is independent from a Windows username and password. You can set them to be the same, but they are completely de-coupled from each other
• The Active Directory service will not synchronize your Windows or Entra ID password with your HelpMaster password
• When using your Active Directory login to Windows, (for the Desktop or Web Portal), you should never see the HelpMaster logon screen - you should automatically be logged on
• Active Directory automatic logon does not mean that you can use your Windows username / password combination in the logon screen for HelpMaster - it just means that HelpMaster recognizes that the person who is logged onto Windows has a corresponding account in HelpMaster

See Also

Resetting client’s HelpMaster password

Resetting client’s Windows password