Posts: 134 Location: Hopedale, MA USA Joined: 15.12.05
Posted on July 20 2008 02:26
vmsfreak01 wrote:
Hi,
Ok, heres just an example on what my question would be.
Suppose now I created a my own username account with a UIC of [1000,1].....Ok, thats fine.
But, in order to avoid using duplicate UIC of [1000,1], what UIC should I provide for my next 20 users (for example)....????
Please help.
Thx.
I'm assuming here that you wish to have all users "reside" in group 1000; if so, then [1000,2], [1000,3], ... [1000,7], [1000,10], etc. (watch out for the octal numbering system here!) would meet your needs. All users would be in the same "group", and the "group" permission bit on files would come into play, as well as the group logical name table.
The ability to group users by similarity (of work function, user interest, etc.) is a very powerful security construct. It would be a good idea to look at the related manuals that deal with this subject, to help you plan "userland".
Posts: 134 Location: Hopedale, MA USA Joined: 15.12.05
Posted on July 20 2008 03:27
vmsfreak01 wrote:
Well thanks.
So, if I wanted to create my next user account, it would be likr this [1000,2] next user...[1000,2].....next user...[1000,3]
Will this be OK?
Its probably documented in the VMS Admin Guide also which I wlll look this up as well.
Consider having a look at the "OpenVMS Guide to System Security" as well; start with Chapter 4, which deals with some of the current questions you have, but have a look through the rest of the manual, as well.
It may seem a bit tiring to spend much time in planning for such a "casual" exercise as setting up a hobbyist box (I'm just guessing here), but if you are thinking of letting others use it, you need to keep security in mind.
Posts: 134 Location: Hopedale, MA USA Joined: 15.12.05
Posted on July 20 2008 10:48
vmsfreak01 wrote:
but if you are thinking of letting others use it, you need to keep security in mind.
VMS is like "ultra secure" its "unhackable"...So I do not even know why they even came up with this guide in the first place.
Security is non-existant when it comes to VMS.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you here.
Your fist post led me to believe (incorrectly?) that you were contemplating letting others use your VMS system. Presumably, this would mean contacting the users, and assigning them usernames and passwords to allow access to your VMS box.
If my assumptions are correct, then your focus needs to shift from "unhackability" to protecting the users from each other (and from you, or vice versa).
When I create a file on my VMS machine, it is assigned the GROUP READ privilege bit by default. Any other user in "my" group has the ability to READ the file without added privileges. Perhaps you want the users on your box to have no privilege to view or execute each others' files or code. In that case, you'll need to assign unique GROUP ID's to each user, or to deny access with mechanisms like ACL's (Access Control Lists) on the user's files and/or directories. Perhaps your users will all collaborate on a development project - then by all means, make sure they have access to the tools and files that they need to navigate a successful project.
Security on a VMS box becomes very important, once you open up the box for use by others. Since security was part of the OS design, care needs to be taken when allowing others access.
All I'm saying here is that despite the view that "VMS is unhackable", there are indeed problems to be addressed once multiple users have access to the same box, as there would be with any other OS. In some large enough VMS systems/shops, there is a separate "security officer" whose job is to make sure that the users can be productive and secure at the same time. Probably not your situation, but it's something to consider.
malmberg August 04 2022 No more VAX hobbyist licenses. Community licenses for Alpha/IA64/X86_64 VMS Software Inc. Commercial VMS software licenses for VAX available from HPE.
ozboomer July 20 2022 Just re-visiting.. No more hobbyist licenses? Is that from vmssoftware.com, no 'community' licenses?
valdirfranco July 01 2022 No more hobbyist license...sad
mister_wavey February 12 2022 I recall that the disks failed on the public access VMS systems that included Fafner
parwezw January 03 2022 Anyone know what happened to FAFNER.DYNDS.ORG? I had a hobbyist account here but can longer access the site.
gtackett October 27 2021 Make that DECdfs _2.1A_ for Vax
gtackett October 27 2021 I'm looking for DECdfs V2.4A kit for VAX. Asking here just in case anyone is still listening.
MarkRLV September 17 2021 At one time, didn't this web site have a job board? I would love to use my legacy skills one last time in my career.
malmberg January 18 2021 New Hobbyist PAKs for VAX/VMS are no longer available according to reports. Only commercial licenses are reported to be for sale from HPE
dfilip January 16 2021 Can someone please point me to hobbyist license pak? I'm looking for VAX/VMS 7.1, DECnet Phase IV, and UCX/TCPIP ... have the 7.1 media, need the license paks ... thanks!
