Q-Logic 64 manual Fabric Security, User Account Security

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3 – Planning Fabric Security

3.5

Fabric Security

An effective security profile begins with a security policy that states the requirements. A threat analysis is needed to define the plan of action followed by an implementation that meets the security policy requirements. Internet portals, such as remote access and email, usually present the greatest threats. Fabric security should also be considered in defining the IT infrastructure security policy.

Most fabrics are located at a single site and are protected by physical security, such as key-code locked computer rooms. For these cases, security methods such as user passwords for equipment and zoning for controlling device access, are satisfactory.

Fabric security is needed when security policy requirements are more demanding: for example, when fabrics span multiple locations and traditional physical protection is insufficient to protect the IT infrastructure. Another benefit of fabric security is that it creates a structure that helps prevent unintended changes to the fabric.

Fabric security consists of the following:

„User account security

„Device security

„Fabric services

3.5.1

User Account Security

User account security consists of the administration of account names, passwords, expiration date, and authority level. If an account has Admin authority, all management tasks can be performed by that account in both SANbox Manager and the Command Line Interface. Otherwise only monitoring tasks are available. The default account name, Admin, is the only account that can administer user accounts. Refer to ”Device Security” on page 3-12. Consider your management needs and determine the number of user accounts, their authority needs, and expiration dates.

Account names and passwords are always required when connecting to a switch through Telnet. However, SANbox Manager does not authenticate account names when opening a fabric unless the UserAuthentication parameter is set to True using the Set Setup System command. Refer to the ”Set Setup Command” on page B-58for more information. The UserAuthentication parameter must be configured the same for all switches in the fabric. If the UserAuthentication parameter is False (default), SANbox Manager logs you in with the Admin account name and password (password). Consider your user accounts and determine whether user authentication is necessary.

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