Select the product you need help with

How to move the Certificate Server database and log files

Article ID: 283193 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q283193

SUMMARY

This article describes how to move a certificate server's database and log files.

Move the Certificate Server Database and Log Files

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Use these steps to change the location of the certificate server database and log files:

Stop the Certificate Services service.
Copy the database files and log files to new location. The default database path is:
%SystemRoot%\System32\CertLog
Modify the database paths in the following registry entries to reflect the new path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\DBDirectory

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\DBLogDirectory

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\DBSystemDirectory

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\DBTempDirectory
Start the Certificate Services service.
Check the Application event log for CertSvc event 26 to verify that the Certificate Services service started successfully.

A warning message is displayed if the service does not start successfully. If this occurs, check the syntax of the paths in the registry.

Note that you may need to edit the NTFS permissions to grant Full Control permissions to the System account. By default, the System account and the Administrators and Enterprise Administrators groups have Full Control access for the CertLog folder.