topic Re: telnetd error in Operating System - HP-UX

telnetd error

Rushank — Thu, 02 Aug 2001 17:43:03 GMT

L class with HPux 11.00 gives this error in syslog

telnetd[16583]Error checking child termination status: error 4 : Interrupted system call

Why is this error keeps appearing in my syslog ?

Re: telnetd error

James R. Ferguson — Thu, 02 Aug 2001 17:58:12 GMT

Hi:

Knowledge Base document #NEWKBRC00003045 notes:

/begin_quote/

PROBLEM
When attempting to telnet on a system, the following error message is generated:

telnetd: Error checking child termination status: error 4: Interrupted system call

This problem is most common on new system installs that have not been performance tuned or patched. It is most commonly seen when running a new application on the system.

CONFIGURATION
11.x and 10.x systems

RESOLUTION
The system is unable to allocate or recycle processes fast enough to meet the application's demands. Check the following kernal parameters have at least the following values:

npty 300
nstrpty 300
nflocks 8192
nfile 8192
nproc 512

If you increase npty or nstrpty then use insf to create the device files.

Always check if the application vendor has specific requirements for kernal tuning. If the kernal parameters look good, check the following patches are at a good level (these are 10.20 patch titles, check for equivalent at 11.0):

STREAMS PTY cumulative
ARPA Transport cumulative
LAN Products cumulative
telnet cumulative
telnet kernal and throughput
rlogin cumulative
libc
inetd

/end_quote/

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: telnetd error

Brian Markus — Thu, 02 Aug 2001 18:22:08 GMT

You might want to consider throwing telnetd out the window. Telnet by nature sends plain text passwords over the network. Most hackers use sniffers, which get's systems hacked. You can install SSH 3.0 on HP-UX with no troubble at all, disable telned, and you'll be more stable, and secure. www.ssh.com. or www.openssh.org

Just a thought. Good luck either way you go.

Brian.

Re: telnetd error

Rushank — Thu, 02 Aug 2001 19:59:57 GMT

James,
only nstrpty is 60 rest all the parameter looks ok.

Re: telnetd error

James R. Ferguson — Thu, 02 Aug 2001 20:23:00 GMT

Hi:

I think it would be worth adjusting 'nstrpty' and rebooting (SAM -> Kernel Configuration).

...JRF...