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Asset ID: 1-72-1007716.1
Update Date:2009-11-12
Keywords:

Solution Type  Problem Resolution Sure

Solution  1007716.1 :   Sun Cobalt[TM] LX50: Passwords not used to authenticate user for remote access control  


Related Items
  • Sun LX50 Server
  •  
Related Categories
  • GCS>Sun Microsystems>Servers>x64 Servers
  •  

PreviouslyPublishedAs
210690


Symptoms
Symptoms
The password is set under LAN Access Mode through the System Setup Utility (SSU)/Platform Event Manager (PEM). To manage the system, for example, power the system off, one would use the following command:
# IPMI_PASSWORD=<password> ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E chassis power off
Chassis Power Control: Down/Off
#
However, when a remote system with IPMItool installed is used to manage a system, while not specifying the password, changes are still made:
# ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E chassis power on
Unable to read password from environment.
Chassis Power Control: Up/On
#


Resolution
Resolution
The issue is the SSU does not set the correct authentication types for IPMI.  This leaves the system open for remote control without supplying a password simply by using authtype NONE. This happens when the password is set through the SSU, either through booting from the Service Partition or from the Diagnostic CD that accompanied the server.
Ideally, it is recommended not to use the SSU, but rather to use the /usr/share/ipmitool/bmclanconf script that comes with ipmitool, which prevents this from happening.
If the SSU was used in the setup of IPMI, then the authtypes need to be reset with IPMItool:
1. Determine the correct lan channel. Since the "eth0" device can be either channel 6 or 7 depending on how the PCI devices are probed.  To do this, log into the remote system and query "channel info" from over the lan interface. It should return the current channel #.
#ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E channel info
Channel 0x7 info:
Channel Medium Type   : 802.3 LAN
Channel Protocol Type : IPMB-1.0
Session Support       : session-based
Active Session Count  : 1
Protocol Vendor ID    : 7154
Volatile(active) Settings
Alerting            : disabled
Per-message Auth    : enabled
User Level Auth     : disabled
Access Mode         : always available
Non-Volatile Settings
Alerting            : disabled
Per-message Auth    : enabled
User Level Auth     : disabled
Access Mode         : always available
2. Remove the NONE authtype option from all the different privilege levels, by doing the following
#IPMI_PASSWORD=<password> ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E  lan set 7 auth admin md2,md5
#IPMI_PASSWORD=<password> ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E  lan set 7 auth user md2,md5
#IPMI_PASSWORD=<password> ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E  lan set 7 auth operator md2,md5
#IPMI_PASSWORD=<password> ipmitool -I lan -H <hostname_or_IP> -E  lan set 7 auth callback md2,md5
This will remove the NONE authtype option all the different privilege levels. Remote access control should now require a password.


Product
Sun LX50 Server

Internal Comments
This is a known issue with the Intel SSU. No current fix available from Intel.

IPMI, IPMItool, remote, control, SSU, LAN Acess Mode, PEM, password
Previously Published As
80597

Change History
2009-11-11
User Name: 79977
Action: Removed reference to V65x v60x
Date: 2005-03-21
User Name: 71396
Action: Approved
Comment: Performed final review of article.

Updated trademaking.

Publishing.
Version: 4
Date: 2005-03-14
User Name: 71396
Action: Accept
Comment:
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-14
User Name: 32650
Action: Approved
Comment: useful info to document, thanks
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-08
User Name: 32650
Action: Accept
Comment:
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-08
User Name: 123022
Action: Approved
Comment: Updated some wording used, also added path for bmclanconf script.
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-08
User Name: 75329
Action: Rejected
Comment: Raymond ask for it to be sent back to him...
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-06
User Name: 75329
Action: Accept
Comment:
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-04
User Name: 123022
Action: Approved
Comment: IPMI ignoring password set on systems. Security related issue.
Version: 0
Date: 2005-03-04
User Name: 123022
Action: Created
Comment:
Version: 0
Product_uuid
3ec6b261-c75c-437c-85d9-2a441f74adc8|Sun LX50 Server

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