telnet pty allocation failed on HP-UX 11i v2 Itanium

[Davide Depaoli_3]

Hello,
we are installing a new rx2620 server and we have a problem with telnet, that doesn't works.
follwing files was already checked and are ok:

/etc/inetd.conf
/etc/services

the error when telnet command is issued is the following:

telnet pty allocation failed

what we are to check ?

thanks in advance
kind regards
Davide

[Patrick Wallek]

How many users are logged in?

If around 60, then you need to check the following kernel parameters:

npty
nstrpty
nstrtel

Change all 3 of these to some higher value. I can't recall if these are static (require a reboot) or dynamic.

If static, then more device files will be created on reboot. If dynamic, you will need to do an 'insf -e' to create the device files.

[Davide Depaoli_3]

Hi,
only one user (root) is logged using the VGA console.
If I try to do telnet (on localhost too) the error occurs.
thanks
Davide

[Patrick Wallek]

Check for the existence of pty files.

# ll /dev/pty*

and make sure you have files created. Also check the ownership and permissions of the files. Everything should be owned by bin:bin. Permissions on pty* directories should be 755 and permissions on pty* files should be 666.

If you don't have files run 'insf -e' and if permissions are wrong, fix them.

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi Davide,
remember to check also whether telnet has been restricted, and whether ssh works.

On newer installations, ssh is enabled by default, and telnet may be restricted like in linux.

HTH,
Massimo

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi Davide,
please also have a look at these thread, there may be suggestions usefull for your situation.

- recreate telnets devices
http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000079977399

- enable inetd logging with "inetd -l" and look for anomalies
http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000073896485

- check whether TCP wrapper has been enabled
( look at inetd. conf ,
from
telnet stream tcp nowait root /usr/lbin/tcpd /usr/lbin/telnetd telnetd
to
telnet stream tcp nowait root /usr/lbin/telnetd telnetd
and restart inetd)

http://docs.hp.com/en/B2355-90774/ch03s03.html

- again, try deletinf /dev/telnetm and recreate special file
http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000082574982

- check for /etc/host.allow
http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000079999771

If using TCP wrappers (tcpd
process) check the /etc/hosts.allow and /etc/hosts.deny files. See man 5
hosts_access details on their usage.

- last (nut not least) here is a full telnet diagnosis guide

http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000082515350

[Davide Depaoli_3]

Hi,
was a Bastille problem. After recreated its configuration all is working.