Managing User Accounts

This chapter includes the following sections:

Active Directory

Active Directory is a technology that provides a variety of network services including LDAP-like directory services, Kerberos-based authentication, and DNS-based naming. The CIMC utilizes the Kerberos-based authentication service of Active Directory.

When Active Directory is enabled in the CIMC, all user authentication and role authorization is performed by Active Directory, and the CIMC ignores the local database. If the CIMC cannot connect to Active Directory, it reverts to the local database.

By checking the Enable Encryption check box in the Active Directory Properties area, you can require the server to encrypt data sent to Active Directory.

Configuring Active Directory in CIMC

Before You Begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to configure active directory.


Procedure
Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.
Step 2   On the Admin tab, click User Management.
Step 3   In the User Management pane, click the Active Directory tab.
Step 4   In the Active Directory Properties area, update the following properties:
Name Description

Enabled check box

If checked, user authentication and role authorization is performed by Active Directory for user accounts not found in the local user database.

Server IP Address field

The Active Directory server IP address.

Timeout field

The number of seconds the CIMC waits until it assumes the connection to Active Directory cannot be established.

Enable Encryption check box

If checked, the server encrypts all information it sends to Active Directory.

Domain field

The domain that all users must be in.

Attributes field

An LDAP attribute that contains the role and locale information for the user. This property is always a name-value pair. The system queries the user record for the value that matches this attribute name.

The LDAP attribute must have the following attribute ID:

1.3.6.1.4.1.9.287247.1

Note   

If you do not specify this property, user access is restricted to read-only.
Step 5   Click Save Changes.

Configuring the Active Directory Server

The CIMC can be configured to use Active Directory for user authentication and authorization. To use Active Directory, configure users with an attribute that holds the user role and locale information for the CIMC. You can use an existing LDAP attribute that is mapped to the CIMC user roles and locales or you can modify the Active Directory schema to add a new custom attribute, such as the CiscoAVPair attribute, which has an attribute ID of 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.287247.1. For more information about altering the Active Directory schema, see the article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727064.aspx.

The following steps are to be performed on the Active Directory server.


Note

This example creates a custom attribute named CiscoAVPair, but you can also use an existing LDAP attribute that is mapped to the CIMC user roles and locales.
Procedure
Step 1   Ensure that the Active Directory schema snap-in is installed.
Step 2   Using the Active Directory schema snap-in, add a new attribute with the following properties:

Properties

Value

Common Name

CiscoAVPair

LDAP Display Name

CiscoAVPair

Unique X500 Object ID

1.3.6.1.4.1.9.287247.1

Description

CiscoAVPair

Syntax

Case Sensitive String
Step 3   Add the CiscoAVPair attribute to the user class using the Active Directory snap-in:
  1. Expand the Classes node in the left pane and type U to select the user class.
  2. Click the Attributes tab and click Add.
  3. Type C to select the CiscoAVPair attribute.
  4. Click OK.
Step 4   Add the following user role values to the CiscoAVPair attribute, for the users that you want to have access to CIMC:

Role

CiscoAVPair Attribute Value

admin

shell:roles="admin"

user

shell:roles="user"

read-only

shell:roles="read-only"
Note   

For more information about adding values to attributes, see the article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727064.aspx.

What to Do Next

Use the CIMC to configure Active Directory.

Configuring Local Users

Before You Begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to configure local users.


Procedure
Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.
Step 2   On the Admin tab, click User Management.
Step 3   In the User Management pane, click the Local User tab.
Step 4   To configure a local user, click a row.
Step 5   In the User Details dialog box, update the following properties:
Name Description

ID column

The unique identifier for the user.

Enabled check box

If checked, the user is enabled on the CIMC.

Username column

The username for the user.

Role column

The role assigned to the user. This can be:


  • read-only—This user can view information but cannot make any changes.

  • user—This user can:


    • View all information

    • Manage the power control options such as power on, power cycle, and power off

    • Launch the KVM console and virtual media

    • Clear all logs

    • Toggle the locator LED

  • admin—This user can perform all actions available through the GUI, CLI, and IPMI.
Step 6   Enter password information.
Step 7   Click Save Changes.

Viewing User Sessions

Procedure
Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.
Step 2   On the Admin tab, click User Management.
Step 3   In the User Management pane, click the Sessions tab.
Step 4   View the following information about current user sessions:
Tip   

Click a column header to sort the table rows, according to the entries in that column.
Name Description

Session ID column

The unique identifier for the session.

Username column

The username for the user.

IP Address column

The IP address from which the user accessed the server.

Type column

The method by which the user accessed the server.

Action column

If your user account has admin privileges, this column displays Terminate if you can force the associated user session to end. Otherwise it displays N/A.

Note   

You cannot terminate your current session from this tab.