Problem with Octane: disable system password

[Eero Ahonen]

Hi.

I bought a used Octane, but I'm facing a problem: the system password is
unknown and needs to be resetted. Octane has "disable password" jumper
on system board, but if I switch the jumper to "disabled" -position, the
machine won't boot up. The fan(s?) spool up nicely, but no signal comes
to screen neither lights on light panel in the front. Owner's manual
says it should be either poorly connected or faulty system board - but
as said, the fault only comes up when password is disabled.

Am I in a need of new system board or can I fix this somehow?

[BoD]

Post by Eero Ahonen
Hi.
I bought a used Octane, but I'm facing a problem: the system password is
unknown and needs to be resetted. Octane has "disable password" jumper
on system board, but if I switch the jumper to "disabled" -position, the
machine won't boot up. The fan(s?) spool up nicely, but no signal comes
to screen neither lights on light panel in the front. Owner's manual
says it should be either poorly connected or faulty system board - but
as said, the fault only comes up when password is disabled.
Am I in a need of new system board or can I fix this somehow?

Resetting the password to the PROM, will in no way allow you access to
the system disk.

You will need a cdrom and a set of system disks.

Or if your unix/linux savy, a cdrom and install tools disk one. so that
you can get a copy of the /etc/passwd file for due process.

If your not irix/unix/linux savy you just bought yourself a brick.

Depending on what version of IRIX is running on the Octanes system disk.

Any or all of the following "may" help, depending on how much you want
it to be more than just a nice looking brick. Or not.

Good Luck !

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=irix+root+exploit+local&btnG=Search&meta=



Lifes one great learning curve, Unless you give up that is.

[Eero Ahonen]

Post by BoD
Resetting the password to the PROM, will in no way allow you access to
the system disk.

I know. It's not needed.

Post by BoD
You will need a cdrom and a set of system disks.

I have my set of Irix discs ;). The problem is _not_ cracking to Irix,
the problem is to make the thing boot from somewhere else than local HD
- either from network or from a CD-ROM drive.

I just need to get the system password disabled from the PROM.

[Paul]

What happens when you hit ESC early in the boot process?
If you can get to the Command monitor, resetpw will work nicely to blank
the password.


If you can boot to IRIX, as root try

nvram passwd_key ""

I _think_ this works on Octanes, but I'm not absolutely sure.
In theory at least, you could pull any Hard Drives to force an (install) CD
boot, from there to shell, then use the above command.


Also, note that SGI says you must remove the system module, but if all else
fails, you could snag a reset button out of a PC (having the appropiate two
pin connector) and route it outside the case carefully. I have been told
that you may need to be able to boot, THEN press the button you just
installed. I've also been told this may corrupt the prom, and I believe it's
not completely impossible it could cause spontaneous fission of all parts in
the octane, conceivably turning your neighborhood into radioactive slag. It
could cause lesser problems also. This is an absilute last resort. Booting
IRIX and issuing the nvram passwd_key "" is your safest bet. :)

Let me know what, if anything, works if you don't mind.

Thanks
Paul

Post by Eero Ahonen
Hi.
I bought a used Octane, but I'm facing a problem: the system password is
unknown and needs to be resetted. Octane has "disable password" jumper
on system board, but if I switch the jumper to "disabled" -position, the
machine won't boot up. The fan(s?) spool up nicely, but no signal comes
to screen neither lights on light panel in the front. Owner's manual
says it should be either poorly connected or faulty system board - but
as said, the fault only comes up when password is disabled.
Am I in a need of new system board or can I fix this somehow?
--

[Eero Ahonen]

Post by Paul
What happens when you hit ESC early in the boot process?
If you can get to the Command monitor, resetpw will work nicely to blank
the password.

I'll find the system tools, where I'd need the password ;). No, I can't
get to Command Monitor; it asks for the passwd.

Post by Paul
If you can boot to IRIX, as root try
nvram passwd_key ""

Hmm. I can't yet, but I do have a chance. I got a offer to install Irix
on another, similar machine, so I'm propably able to try that out one of
these days.

Post by Paul
I _think_ this works on Octanes, but I'm not absolutely sure.
In theory at least, you could pull any Hard Drives to force an (install) CD
boot, from there to shell, then use the above command.

Ah, that might be possible also.

Post by Paul
Also, note that SGI says you must remove the system module, but if all else
fails, you could snag a reset button out of a PC (having the appropiate two
pin connector) and route it outside the case carefully. I have been told
that you may need to be able to boot, THEN press the button you just
installed. I've also been told this may corrupt the prom, and I believe it's
not completely impossible it could cause spontaneous fission of all parts in
the octane, conceivably turning your neighborhood into radioactive slag. It
could cause lesser problems also. This is an absilute last resort. Booting
IRIX and issuing the nvram passwd_key "" is your safest bet. :)

Muah :D.

Post by Paul
Let me know what, if anything, works if you don't mind.

Yes, I will.

Post by Paul
Thanks
Paul

[Eero Ahonen]

Post by Paul
Let me know what, if anything, works if you don't mind.

Ok, it works. After all the procedure was quite simple, since the HD in
my Octane already has an installed Irix:

1) rip off the HD from the Octane

2) install the HD to a SparcStation5, boot to NetBSD

3) dd an image of the HD to a server's disk

4) locate the start of the Irix root partition on the image

5) assing a loop device to the image with a correct offset to catch the
partition

6) run xfs_repair -L (yes, the log was damaged) under Linux to the loop
device

7) mount the loop device

8) reset root passwd from the Irix (vi'ng the /etc/passwd)

9) go backwards and install the HD back to the Octane

10) login as root (while there's no password, it's easy)

11) run nvram passwd_key ""

Off to bed now (it's 'bout 2AM here), but my journey shall continue
tomorrow :). I'm going to reinstall Irix (or at least upgrade - the
machine has .15, I have .17) someday, but I'll most probably need a new
CD-ROM drive for that.

[Atro Tossavainen]

Post by Eero Ahonen
Off to bed now (it's 'bout 2AM here), but my journey shall continue
tomorrow :). I'm going to reinstall Irix (or at least upgrade - the
machine has .15, I have .17) someday, but I'll most probably need a new
CD-ROM drive for that.

Congratulations, Aero!

You are aware of course that 6.5.22 materials are free from SGI?

You won't need a CD-ROM that works with the Octane. Since you already
have a working environment, you can upgrade within it (access to the
files over NFS will be sufficient). Even if you decide you do want to
start from scratch, it will save you a lot of time to copy all the
installation disks over to something that you will make available on
the network using the "Setting Up an Installation Server" procedure
described in the IRIX Admin: Software Installation and Licensing book:

http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=0650&db=bks&srch=&fname=/SGI_Admin/IA_InstLicns/sgi_html/ch02.html

and install over the network rather than using CDs.

[Eero Ahonen]

Post by Atro Tossavainen
Congratulations, Aero!

Thanks.

Post by Atro Tossavainen
You are aware of course that 6.5.22 materials are free from SGI?

Ahh, heard this some time ago, but forgotten. Was it so that only the
overlays are available freely?

Post by Atro Tossavainen
You won't need a CD-ROM that works with the Octane. Since you already
have a working environment, you can upgrade within it (access to the
files over NFS will be sufficient).

Well yeah, but even my IDE-drives tell me that they don't support the
used block size, even while my Linux kernel supports efs.

But hey, wait a sec.. oh yeah, I can mount the images I took from the
CD's on Linux (I'd guess on Irix too, but I didn't yet find out how).

Post by Atro Tossavainen
Even if you decide you do want to
start from scratch, it will save you a lot of time to copy all the
installation disks over to something that you will make available on
the network

Yep, I've already thought about installing over network (it's what I've
usually done for OS's, running BSD's and Linuxes). Just had a problem
with mounting the CD's, but that's also gone now ;).

Post by Atro Tossavainen
using the "Setting Up an Installation Server" procedure
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=0650&db=bks&srch=&fname=/SGI_Admin/IA_InstLicns/sgi_html/ch02.html
and install over the network rather than using CDs.

[Atro Tossavainen]

Post by Eero Ahonen
Ahh, heard this some time ago, but forgotten. Was it so that only the
overlays are available freely?

That's right, but if you already have everything else on CD, you're fine.

Post by Eero Ahonen
Well yeah, but even my IDE-drives tell me that they don't support the
used block size, even while my Linux kernel supports efs.

The trick is to use loopback in the middle.

Post by Eero Ahonen
But hey, wait a sec.. oh yeah, I can mount the images I took from the
CD's on Linux (I'd guess on Irix too, but I didn't yet find out how).

That's a somewhat clumsy way of doing "loopback", but it works.

On IRIX I don't think there is a loopback way of mounting anything.

[Eero Ahonen]

Post by Atro Tossavainen

Post by Eero Ahonen
Well yeah, but even my IDE-drives tell me that they don't support the
used block size, even while my Linux kernel supports efs.

The trick is to use loopback in the middle.

Yep. But when trying to think too tired, nothing intelligent comes to
mind ;).

Post by Atro Tossavainen

Post by Eero Ahonen
But hey, wait a sec.. oh yeah, I can mount the images I took from the
CD's on Linux (I'd guess on Irix too, but I didn't yet find out how).

That's a somewhat clumsy way of doing "loopback", but it works.

Actually not. I've allready gone trough the physical operation of
inserting all 17 discs and imaging them (I have a bad habit of keeping
OS's as disc images at my HD - has saved my day couple of times), so now
I can copy the files easily with just my keyboard ;). The meaningful
effect comes closer, while I don't have my Linux -workstation on this
side of the table, so I'll have to go round my table, listening chair
and bed to change the disc.

Post by Atro Tossavainen
On IRIX I don't think there is a loopback way of mounting anything.

Well, it's an open channel here. If someone knows, let us know ;). Two
curious here.