topic Re: breaking into vms system in Operating System - OpenVMS

breaking into vms system

Dean McGorrill — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:31:10 GMT

I've been training a new worker, and was chastised for teaching him how to break into
a vms system if he had to. I could swear it was documented in the manuals, but can't find it. anyone know if it is documented?

Re: breaking into vms system

Richard Whalen — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:42:55 GMT

It's been a long standing rule that if you have physical access to the system (console) then the system is not secure from a person that has sufficient knowledge.

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/faq/vmsfaq_007.html#index_x_471 section 5.6 mentions it emergency conversational startup.

V1 of the OpenVMS Technical journal mentions it http://h71000.www7.hp.com/openvms/journal/v1/atw.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

So, while it is not in the manuals, it appears to be relatively easy to find documentation about it.

Re: breaking into vms system

Dean McGorrill — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:53:22 GMT

Thank you Richard, yes access to the hardware is access to the system. and was
one of the first things I learned and useful
to know. I will point them to that docs,
tx Dean

Re: breaking into vms system

Dean McGorrill — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:54:07 GMT

Re: breaking into vms system

Louis in Michigan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:11:05 GMT

The information has always been easily obtainable.

In the OpenVMS Alpha and I64 Version 8.2 documentation set, the following manual describes the procedures by which one gains administrative access to OpenVMS from the system console.

Manual: HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials

Chapter: Starting Up and Shutting Down the System

Topic: Booting in an Emergency

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/82FINAL/aa-pv5mj-tk/aa-pv5mj-tk.HTMl

Note that physical access to the console is necessary. Some arrangement of external hardware which allows console access to be perceived as physical even though the user is remotely located will also work, but you get the idea. This cannot be done via some software like REALVNC.

Re: breaking into vms system

Ian Miller. — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:51:38 GMT

It's also in the FAQ
http://64.223.189.234/node/204