modem login no longer prompts for a password

[Debbie Fleith]

Our HP 11 server for some odd reason has suddenly stopped authenticating our login over the modem port. We get dialed in just fine, get a login prompt just fine, can type in our normal login and then press enter. But then, we never get prompted for a password.

There are no errors getting logged in the syslog.log file.

Other users can login just fine today over pseudo ports and at the console.

Any idea what the problem could be?

[Steven E. Protter]

I would check the status of the mgetty process on the server while doing a login. Maybe the process is getting hung up, or there is a hung one from a previous login.

You might be able to clear it with a kill command.

Other things to look at since I'm fishing today:

1) Hardware fault with modem or phone line. Perhaps try a different modem or phone line.
2) Problems with terminals or psuedo devices insf -e
3) Loose connector between the modem and the HP-9000 server.
4) Hardware flaw inside the server xstm mstm cstm test out modem/serial devices.
5) Can you boot the box and see if the error keeps happening?

SEP

[Seth Parker]

You might also check that someone didn't clear or erase your /etc/dialups file. The devices listed in that file are the ones that get prompted for the extra password. Maybe someone took them out?

While you're looking, you might as well check to make sure the /etc/d_passwd file exists and hasn't been changed.

Good luck!
Seth

[Debbie Fleith]

IT turns out that their was a LCK file out there from a previous connection. Once that was cleared, it worked OK.

[Rick Garland]

Something else to be aware of. You can input AT commands (if the modem is Hayes compatible) to return silent. So if you type AT and expect the OK back, you can enter a AT string that tells the modem to be silent.