Getting 403 forbidden error when we click on Search Settings page.

Hello All,

When I was working with customer we were getting this following error, Please follow this below steps to resolve the issue.

ERROR MESSAGE:

Getting 403 forbidden error when we click on Search Settings page.

RESOLUTION:

1. Newly added an Index server to the farm and started the search services successfully.
2. When we click on the search settings page getting 403 forbidden error.
3. Found that when we add the SSP credential account to Local admin of Index server we were able to crawl and open the search settings page.
4. Told me that don't want to add the SSP credential account to Local admin.
5. Removed the user from the admin group and did the IISRESET.
6. Checked the SSP search settings page got an 403 error.
7. Already followed the KB 926959.
8. Ran the Psconfig -cmd secureresources and checked the Search settings getting same error.
9. Ran the Procmon on the Index box and reproduced the issue and checked the procmon didn't get to see any access denied error message.
10. Checked the SearchAdmin.asmx file permission it was correct.
11. Checked the permission level of Searchsspsettings.aspx page and it was correct.
12. Followed the KB 934838 and added the SSP account into WSS_Admin_WPG.
13. Added the Search service account into IIS_WPG & WSS_Admin_WPG and reset the IIS.
14. Accessed the SSP Search settings page and we were able to open the Search settings page without any error.