topic Re: Machine Identification Number in Operating System - HP-UX

Machine Identification Number

Maxence Moutet — Mon, 02 Jul 2001 18:06:52 GMT

Hi,

Does anyone know what exactly the machine identification number is made off?
More precisely, what parts of the box (motherboard, cpu, network card, memory, etc.)can be changed without modifying this number, and what parts imply a modification of the number when changed?

Thanks in advance,

Max

Re: Machine Identification Number

Sachin Patel — Mon, 02 Jul 2001 18:44:58 GMT

Hi
This is a tracking number of HP. they can tell how many license you have and etc. by this number. This number is stored in some chip I don't know where, mostly one of the ROM.

Sachin

Re: Machine Identification Number

Scott Riley — Mon, 02 Jul 2001 19:33:24 GMT

Max,

The machine ID is field modifiable by your CE. It is kept in NVRam, so there is no dependecy on the CPU's, network cards or memory. In the past, I've seen the machine ID change on a major upgrade, for instance a K4XX to a K5XX. The CE is able to change it back if you need to keep your old ID for licensing purposes.

- Scott

Re: Machine Identification Number

Ulrich Deiters — Wed, 04 Jul 2001 05:21:48 GMT

Depending on the machine the number
is in a little integrated circuit that is
plugged into the mainboard and which
can be removed or replaced.

You can also set the machine number
by software, but that has to be repeated
after each reboot.

Re: Machine Identification Number

Bill McNAMARA_1 — Wed, 04 Jul 2001 07:24:24 GMT

You can get this sysid from uname -i
It's called the SWID.
I believe it'll be interfaced through getconf (1m) (see the man) uniquely in the future.

The value can be changed and reburned by HP CE's but only in cases of motherboard replacements is this done. The value is stored in stable storage, on the same flash as your pri boot path and rtc info etc.
It is impossible to modify it yourself (licencing problems otherwise) you need what's called the SS_KEY util that is only available to CEs via passwords based on your chassis serial number.

Later,
Bill

Re: Machine Identification Number

Maxence Moutet — Thu, 05 Jul 2001 16:41:49 GMT

Thanks everybody for your help.
It's been very usefull, and from what I've read
I came up with the conclusion that the MID can only change if and only if the motherboard is changed.
Correct?
Max