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HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation
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Setting Up Host-based Authentication

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Host-based authentication requires configuration actions on both client and server hosts.

Setting Up Host-based Authentication on the Client

Set the following configuration parameters:

  • Specify the value of the AllowedAuthentications parameter to include the word hostbased. For example: 

    AllowedAuthentications hostbased

  • Specify the value of the DefaultDomain keyword to be the fully-qualified domain name for the local host. For example, if the fully-qualified domain name for the local host is color.art.com, enter the following: 

    DefaultDomain color.art.com

Setting Up Host-based Authentication on the Server

  1. Edit the server configuration file as follows:

    • Set the value of the AllowedAuthentications parameter to include the word hostbased. For example: 

      AllowedAuthentications hostbased

    • To enable use of the user-specific SHOSTS. files, set the value of the IgnoreRhosts parameter to no. For example: 

      IgnoreRhosts no

      Because no is the default, the parameter can also be commented out, as follows: 

      #IgnoreRhosts no

      If the IgnoreRhosts parameter is set to no, the SSH server looks up the host name in the user-specific SHOSTS. file. If this parameter is set to yes, the host name is assumed to be in the systemwide SHOSTS.EQUIV fle. See Appendix B for more information.

  2. Edit the systemwide trusted hosts file, TCPIP$SSH_DEVICE:[TCPIP$SSH.SSH2]SHOSTS.EQUIV, to add the fully qualified name of every SSH client host that will communicate with the server. You can also enter a specific user name to limit access to that user. For example:

    MYHOST.MYLAB.COM

    or

    MYHOST.MYLAB.COM smith

    If the IgnoreRhosts parameter is set to no, you can also add the client host and optional user names to the file SYS$LOGIN:SHOSTS. for a specific user.

    If user names are used, those associated with OpenVMS client hosts must be in lowercase; those associated wih UNIX client hosts must match the account name case as it exists on the UNIX host.

  3. In host-based authentication, the client and server hosts authenticate each other. Therefore, the server host must have the client's host public key. Copy the client's host public-key file (CLIENTHOST::TCPIP$SSH_DEVICE:[TCPIP$SSH.SSH2]HOSTKEY.PUB) to the server directory (SERVERHOST::TCPIP$SSH_DEVICE:[TCPIP$SSH.SSH2.KNOWNHOSTS]). Name the key file name using the following format:

    fully-qualified-hostname_ ssh-dss.pub.

    Specify the proper protection for the new file using the /PROTECTION=W=RE qualifier to the COPY command. Without the proper protection, host-based authentication will not work.

    For example, if the host name is green and its domain name is color.art.com, copy the client's host public-key file as follows:

    $ COPY SYS$LOGIN:[SSH2.KNOWNHOSTS]green_color_art_com_ssh-dss.pub -
_$ SERVERHOST::TCPIP$SSH_DEVICE:[TCPIP$SSH.SSH2.KNOWNHOSTS]-
_$ green_color_art_com_ssh-dss.pub/PROTECTION=(W=RE)

  4. If you want your own version of the host public key files in addition to the systemwide file, copy the file into your [username.SSH2.KNOWNHOSTS] directory. If the same file exists in both directories, the SSH server uses the user-specific key-name file in your user directory.



Setting Up Password Authentication
  		 


Setting Up Public-Key Authentication