Summary of Software Security Features

Summary of Software Security Features

The table below lists the software security features and describes what protection each offers. In general, to enable or set the features listed here, you must run the SSU and go to the Security Subsystem Group, menu. The table also refers to other SSU menus and to the Setup utility.

Table 4. Software Security Features

Feature

Secure mode

Disable writing to diskette

Description

How to enter secure mode:

•Setting and enabling passwords automatically places the system in secure mode.

•If you set a hot-key combination (through Setup), you can secure the system simply by pressing the key combination. This means you do not have to wait for the inactivity time-out period.

When the system is in secure mode:

•The server can boot and run the operating system, but mouse and keyboard input is not accepted until the user password is entered.

•At boot time, if a CD is detected in the CD-ROM drive or a diskette in drive A, the system prompts for a password. When the password is entered, the server boots from CD or diskette and disables the secure mode.

•If there is no CD in the CD-ROM drive or diskette in drive A, the server boots from drive C and automatically goes into secure mode. All enabled secure mode features go into effect at boot time.

To leave secure mode: Enter the correct password(s).

In secure mode, the server will not boot from or write to a diskette unless a password is entered.

To write protect access to diskette whether the server is in secure mode or not, use the Setup main menu, Floppy Options, and specify Floppy Access as read only.

Set a time out period so that keyboard and mouse input are not accepted

Also, screen can be blanked, and writes to diskette can be inhibited

Control access to using the SSU: set supervisor password

Specify and enable an inactivity time out period of from 1 to 120 minutes.

If no keyboard or mouse action occurs for the specified period, attempted keyboard and mouse input will not be accepted.

The monitor display will go blank, and the diskette drive will be write protected (if these security features are enabled through Setup).

To resume activity: Enter the correct password(s).

To control access to setting or changing the system configuration, set a supervisor password and enable it through Setup.

If both the supervisor and user passwords are enabled, either can be used to boot the server or enable the keyboard and/or mouse, but only the supervisor password will allow Setup to be changed.

To disable a password, change it to a blank entry or press CTRL-D in the Change Password menu of the Supervisor Password Option menu found in the Security Subsystem Group.

To clear the password if you cannot access Setup, change the Clear Password jumper (see Chapter 6).

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Description