Applications Systems

RealTimeProcessPoller cannot retrieve a list of processes error in alerts on the SolarWinds Platform

When the High CPU Utilization with Top 10 Processes alert action triggers, the Alert Notes widget on the alert details page is empty. In the ProgramData\SolarWinds\Logs\APM\RealTimeprocessPoller.log, you can see RealTimeProcessPoller errors.

First published date

10/17/2023 12:57 PM

Last published date

10/17/2025 10:41 PM

Overview

When the High CPU Utilization with Top 10 Processes alert action triggers, the Alert Notes widget on the alert details page is empty. In the ProgramData\SolarWinds\Logs\APM\RealTimeprocessPoller.log, you can see RealTimeProcessPoller errors.

ERROR SolarWinds.APM.RealTimeProcessPoller.RealTimePollingHelper - Error occurred when retrieving list of processes
System.TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'SolarWinds.Orion.Common.DatabaseFunctions' threw an exception. ---> System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path 'C:\ProgramData\SolarWinds\CredentialStorage' is denied.
   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
   at System.IO.Directory.InternalCreateDirectory(String fullPath, String path, Object dirSecurityObj, Boolean checkHost)
   at System.IO.Directory.InternalCreateDirectoryHelper(String path, Boolean checkHost)
   at System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(String path)
   at SolarWinds.Orion.Common.SystemIO.DirectoryWrapper.CreateDirectory(String path)
   at SolarWinds.Orion.Common.CredentialStorage.FileCredentialStorage..ctor(String credentialStoragePath, IDirectoryWrapper directoryWrapper, IFileWrapper fileWrapper, ICryptoHelper cryptoHelper)
   at SolarWinds.Orion.Common.DatabaseFunctions..cctor()

 

Product section

Server Application Monitor

Cause

The alert action is executed by the default user with low privileges. See Execute an external program in the SolarWinds Platform.

Resolution

To resolve the issue:

  1. In the SolarWinds Platform Web Console, click Alerts & Activity > Manage Alerts.

  2. Find the Alert 'High CPU Utilization with Top 10 Processes' and click Edit.

  3. On Trigger Actions, edit the trigger action Execute Program: SolarWinds.APM.RealTimeProcessPoller.exe and configure the alert action to use Windows credentials for the SolarWinds Platform Server.

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  4. Finish the alert configuration.

When the alert triggers, you will see a list of processes with low CPU in the Alert Notes widget on the alert details view.