Looking to install a MID Server on your Windows machine? This simple guide will walk you through the steps to get it up and running smoothly.
Prerequisites:
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
1. ServiceNow Instance–Your personal or company ServiceNow environment. 2. Virtual Machine (VM)–A Windows-based VM where the MID Server will be installed.
Step 1: Access Your Virtual Machine
Log in to your Virtual Machine (VM) where you plan to install the MID Server.
This will be the host system that facilitates communication between your ServiceNow instance and your on-prem resources.
Step 2: Log in to Your ServiceNow Instance
Once you're inside your VM, open a browser and log in to your ServiceNow instance from within the VM.
This is important because the MID Server will communicate with ServiceNow from this environment.
Step 3: Create a MID Server User in ServiceNow
To securely connect your MID Server with your ServiceNow instance, you’ll need a dedicated integration user with the proper permissions.
Steps:
1. In your ServiceNow instance, navigate to User Administration > Users. 2. Click New to create a user record.
- Fill in the required fields:
i) Username: mid_server
ii) Password: Give a password and save this somewhere safe!
Tip: Use a strong and unique password for security. You’ll need this username and password during the MID Server installation.
- Scroll down to the Roles tab and assign the role:
This role gives the user permissions to authenticate the MID Server and perform required operations securely.
Step 4: Download the MID Server Installer
Now it’s time to get the MID Server installer onto your Virtual Machine.
Steps:
- In your ServiceNow instance, navigate to:
All → MID Server ->Downloads
2. From the list of available installers, choose the one for Windows (ZIP) and download it.
The file will typically be saved in the Downloads folder of your Virtual Machine.
To stay organized, create a dedicated folder before installing:
1) Go to your C:\ drive
2) Create a new folder and name it: Mid server
3) Extract the downloaded folder to folder you created in C Drive
This helps keep your installation environment clean and avoids any confusion during setup.
Step 5: Create a Service Account in Your Virtual Machine
A dedicated Service Account is required to run the MID Server as a Windows service. Let’s create one and assign it the proper permissions.
Part 1: Create the Service Account
- On your Windows VM, open Computer Management
(Press WIN + X →Choose “Computer Management”)
- Navigate to: System Tools → Local Users and Groups → Users
User name: mid_server (or any name matching your ServiceNow integration user)
1) Full name: Same as above for easy tracking○ Set a strong password
2) Confirm the password
3) Check these options:
Password never expires 5. Click Create→ Then Close
You’ll now see your new Service Account listed in the Users panel as shown below.
Part 2: Grant "Log on as a Service" Rights
1. Open the Local Security Policy on your VM
(Search “Local Security Policy” from Start menu)
Navigate to:
Local Policies → User Rights Assignment → Log on as a service
Double-click Log on as a service and do the following:
1) Click Add User or Group
2) Enter the name of the Service Account you created earlier○ Click Check Names to validate it
3) Once it resolves, click OK and then Apply
Step 6: Install the MID Server
Now that your environment is ready, let’s install the MID Server on your Virtual Machine.
Launch the Installer
1. Navigate to the folder you created earlier:
C:\Mid Server -> agent
Open “config” file in notepad
Make changes to servicenow URL, mid server username, password, and name of mid server
Right click on start file and run as administrator
Step 7: Verify MID Server Record in ServiceNow
Once the installation is complete, let’s confirm that the MID Server has registered successfully with your ServiceNow instance.
Steps:
1. Log back into your ServiceNow instance from the VM. 2. Navigate to:
All→ MID Server→ Servers
This confirms that your MID Server has successfully connected to ServiceNow and is ready for action!
Step 8: Validate the MID Server
Even though the MID Server shows as "Up", it still needs to be validated before it becomes fully operational.
Steps to Validate:
1. Open the newly created MID Server record.
2. Scroll down to Related Links and click on Validate.
During validation, the MID Server status may temporarily show as Down—this is expected behavior.
This is how it shows when the MID Server is validating
Wait a few minutes while the system runs validation checks.
3. Once the validation completes:
i) Status: Up
ii) Validated:✔True
Your MID Server is now fully set up, connected, and ready to securely orchestrate
operations between your on-premise systems and ServiceNow.
If this article helped you get your MID Server up and running, please mark it as Helpful — it helps others find this content too!
