Many company use service account for vCenter Server database and services. To compliance with security policy, you may need to change password of vCenter Server at regular period. This is a way I used to change password:
1. Change the password of service account of vCenter Server and database in AD.
2. Change the password of Log-On As account of vCenter Server/Management Webservices in Services.
3. Run vpxd.exe -p command as administrator to change database password. ( It usually located on C:Program FilesVMwareInfrastructureVirtualCenter Server )
4. RDP vCenter Server by service account.
5. Open DSN of vCenter Server and click next button to save password to DSN.
6. Reboot vCenter Server.
Notes: You maybe able to logon vCenter Server if you just restart VC services, but you will face low performance to retrieve information of host, VM…etc.
Most company may has vCenter Update Manager together with vCenter Server, the password change of vCenter Update Manager service account is similar like vCenter Server.
1. Change the password of service account of vCenter Server and database in AD.
2. Change the password of Log-On As account of vCenter Update Manager in Services.
3. Run VMwareUpdateManagerUtility.exe as administrator. ( It’s usually on C:Program Files (x86)VMwareInfrastructureUpdate Manager )
4. Input new database credential on Database Setting.
5. Re-register to vCenter Server by new credential.
6. Reboot vCenter Update Manager server.
You can also reference to http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1006482 and http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1034605.