breaking into vms system

[Dean McGorrill]

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?

[Richard Whalen · Accepted solution]

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.

[Dean McGorrill]

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

[Dean McGorrill]

tx

[Louis in Michigan]

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.

[Ian Miller.]

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