/dev/random error on hpvm creation

[paul_xedos]

Hi,

I'm seeing an odd issue on an HPUX 11.23 server when attempting to create an hpvm:

 # hpvmmodify -P hpvmSS -a network:lan::vswitch:vmswitch
open: /dev/random: No such device
hpvmmodify: ERROR (host): Unable to get proposal: No such device.
open: /dev/random: No such device
hpvmmodify: ERROR (host): Unable to get proposal: No such device.
open: /dev/random: No such device
hpvmmodify: ERROR (host): Unable to get proposal: No such device.
hpvmmodify: WARNING (host): Failed after 3 attempts.
hpvmmodify: WARNING (host): Unable to create Ethernet MAC Address.

The initial error is opening /dev/random ( no such device) but it exists:

# ll /dev/random /dev/urandom
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 130 0x000000 Oct 14 11:51 /dev/random
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 130 0x000009 Jun 23 16:20 /dev/urandom

and the software for rng exists:

# swlist -l fileset | grep -i random
OS-Core.RNG-DKRN B.11.23 HP-UX Strong Random Number Generator
# PHKL_31506 1.0 Kernel Random Number Generator patch

the rnd module is loaded:

# kcmodule -v rng
Module rng (0.1.0)
Description Strong Random Number Generator
State loaded (as requested)
State at Next Boot loaded (as requested)
Capable loaded unused
Depends On interface HPUX_11_23:1.0

and I've tried copying an earlier rng module to current:

# ll /stand/*/mod/rng
-r-------- 2 root sys 92744 Oct 13 15:56 /stand/backup/mod/rng
-r-------- 2 root sys 92744 Oct 13 15:56 /stand/current/mod/rng
-r--r--r-- 1 bin bin 92744 Aug 27 2004 /stand/last_install/mod/rng
-r-------- 2 root sys 92744 Oct 13 15:56 /stand/nextboot/mod/rng

all filesets are showing as configured:

swlist -l fileset -a state 

In short, I'm not sure what the issue is so if anyone has any ideas ....

Thanks

Paul

[Stan_M]

The error is likely coming from uuidgen(1) which modify may call to generate MAC address.

Check if the device files point to the correct driver (rng):

# lsdev|grep 130

if not, recreate the device files with the correct major number.

[paul_xedos]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately it was not that

 # lsdev | grep 130
130 -1 hpvmntdvr pseudo

regards

Paul

[Stan_M · Accepted solution]

It's exactly that.

The /dev/*random must point to driver 'rng' and not to 'hpvmntdvr'.

[paul_xedos]

Hey that's great.

I'm ok with how to create the /dev/*random files but could you offer some pointers on how to get them to point to the rng  module?

Thanks

Paul

[paul_xedos]

# lsdev | grep rng
121 -1 rng pseudo
# ll /dev/*random
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 130 0x000000 Oct 14 11:51 /dev/random
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 130 0x000009 Jun 23 16:20 /dev/urandom
 # rm /dev/*random
 # mknod /dev/urandom c 121 9
# mknod /dev/random c 121 0
# chmod 644 /dev/*random
# ll /dev/*random
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 121 0x000000 Oct 16 14:51 /dev/random
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 121 0x000009 Oct 16 14:51 /dev/urandom

hpvmcreate command now works

Thanks very much

Paul