“Invalid Credentials” Error Adding a Hyper-V Host Using a Local Account

KB ID: 1914
Product: Veeam Backup & Replication | 13
Published: 2014-08-07
Last Modified: 2026-01-12
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Article Applicability

This article relates to an error that only occurs when Veeam Backup & Replication is deployed on a Windows machine.

With the Veeam Software Appliance, to add a Hyper-V host using credentials, it requires that both the appliance and the Windows machine are added to the same domain to enable Kerberos authentication. Alternatively, the new Veeam Deployment Kit can be used to eliminate the need to provide remote credentials, instead allowing for certificate-based authentication.

Attempting to add a Hyper-V host to the Veeam Software Appliance using local credentials will cause it to throw the error:

Cannot find the specified domain. Ensure Kerberos credentials are
specified in FQDN\USER or USER@FQDN format. Local user
accounts are not supported. Samba failed with error:
NT_STATUS_NO_SUCH_DOMAIN [stdout: session setup failed:
NT_STATUS_NO_SUCH_DOMAIN. stderr: Kinit for
administrator@{hostname} to access {hostname} failed: Cannot find KDC
for requested realm. ]

Challenge

When attempting to add a Hyper-V host to Veeam Backup & Replication using a local (non-domain) user account, the following error occurs:
Failed to connect to host

Access denied or timeout expired.
Check if you have local administrator privileges on computer

Possible reasons:
1. Invalid credentials.
2. Specified host is not a Hyper-V server.
The "New Hyper-V Server" wizard in Veeam Backup and Replication is on the Credentials step, with "Connect using local administrator credentials" selected and credentials for "hv01\localbackupsvc" entered. An error dialog is displayed in the foreground with a red X and the message: "Failed to connect to host hv01. Access denied or timeout expired. Check if you have local administrator privileges on computer 'hv01'. Possible reasons: 1. Invalid credentials. 2. Specified host is not a Hyper-V server." An "OK" button is at the bottom of the dialog.
Veeam Backup & Replication Console Example
The "Microsoft Hyper-V server" wizard in the Veeam web UI is on the Credentials step, with "Connect using admin credentials" selected and "hv01\localbackupsvc" entered as credentials. An error dialog is shown in the center with a red exclamation icon and the message: "Failed to connect to host hv01. Access denied or timeout expired. Check if you have local administrator privileges on computer 'hv01'. Possible reasons: 1. Invalid credentials. 2. Specified host is not a Hyper-V server." An "OK" button is at the bottom of the dialog.
Veeam Backup & Replication Web UI Example

Cause

When using a local account other than the built-in Administrator account, remote access is blocked by UAC remote restrictions.

Solution

When adding a Hyper-V server to Veeam Backup & Replication, the account assigned must comply with UAC remote restrictions. Specifically, the account must be either of the following:

Please ensure that the username is formatted using HOSTNAME\USER for local accounts or DOMAIN\USER for domain accounts.

 

Alternate Option

As an alternative to adding a Hyper-V server to Veeam Backup & Replication using credentials-based authentication, the new Veeam Deployment Kit can be installed on the Hyper-V host(s) before adding it to Veeam Backup & Replication. This will allow you to select the "Connect using certificate-based authentication" option, eliminating the need to provide credentials to Veeam Backup & Replication to establish a connection to the remote machine.

Use Case Examples when Using Credentials-based Authentication

  • If the Hyper-V server being added to Veeam Backup & Replication is joined to a domain (as recommended by Microsoft), a domain account that is a member of the local Administrators group on the Hyper-V server should be used to add the server to Veeam Backup & Replication.
  • If the Hyper-V server being added to Veeam Backup & Replication is not joined to a domain, or there is a need to avoid using a domain account, the built-in account named Administrator must be used to add the server to Veeam Backup & Replication. Other local accounts will be restricted by UAC, even if they are members of the Administrators group.

    Note: If the local built-in Administrator account has been renamed, it can still be used as the unique SID that bypasses Remote UAC Restrictions remains valid.

More Information

If none of the provided account options are viable, it is possible to disable UAC remote restrictions. This will allow local accounts other than the Administrator to be used for remote access. This option should be considered a last resort as it involves disabling a major Microsoft Windows OS security feature that may leave the Hyper-V server vulnerable.

We highly recommend simply using the Veeam Deployment Kit instead of disabling UAC remote restrictions.

If the error listed on this KB article occurs while using the built-in Administrator account or a domain account that is a member of the local Administrators group, the issue may be related to a firewall or NAT. During the initial connection to the Hyper-V server, Veeam Backup & Replication will attempt to communicate with the Hyper-V server to determine if it is, in fact, a Hyper-V server. If those connections fail, the error on this KB will occur. Review the Used Ports section of the User Guide.

If this KB article did not resolve your issue or you need further assistance with Veeam software, please create a Veeam Support Case.

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