Managing User Accounts

This chapter includes the following sections:

Configuring Local Users

The Cisco IMC now implements a strong password policy wherein you are required to follow guidelines and set a strong password when you first log on to the server for the first time. The Local User tab displays a Disable Strong Password button which allows you to disable the strong password policy and set a password of your choice by ignoring the guidelines. Once you disable the strong password, an Enable Strong Password button is displayed. By default, the strong password policy is enabled.

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to configure or modify local user accounts.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin menu.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click the Local User Management tab.

Step 4

To configure or modify a local user account, click a row in the Local User Management pane and click Modify User.

Step 5

In the Modify User Details dialog box, update the following properties:

Name Description

ID field

The unique identifier for the user.

Username field

The username for the user.

Enter between 1 and 16 characters.

Role Played field

The role assigned to the user. This can be one of the following:

  • read-only—A user with this role can view information but cannot make any changes.

  • user—A user with this role can perform the following tasks:

    • 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

    • Ping

  • admin—A user with this role can perform all actions available through the GUI, CLI, and IPMI.

Enabled check box

If checked, the user is enabled on the Cisco IMC.

Password field

The password for this user name.

Click the Suggest button to get a system generated password that you may want to use.

When you move the mouse over the help icon beside the field, the following guidelines to set the password are displayed:

  • The password must have a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 20 characters.

  • The password must not contain the User's Name.

  • The password must contain characters from three of the following four categories:

    • English uppercase characters (A through Z).

    • English lowercase characters (a through z).

    • Base 10 digits (0 through 9).

    • Non-alphabetic characters (!, @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, -, _,+ , =).

These guidelines are meant to define a strong password for the user, for security reasons. However, if you want to set a password of your choice ignoring these guidelines, click the Disable Strong Password button on the Local User Management tab. While setting a password when the strong password option is disabled, you can use between 1- 20 characters.

Confirm New Password field

The password repeated for confirmation.

Step 6

Enter password information.

Step 7

Click Save Changes.

Password Expiry

You can set a shelf life for a password, after which it expires. As an administrator, you can set this time in days. This configuration would be common to all users. Upon password expiry, the user is notified on login and would not be allowed to login unless the password is reset.


Note
When you downgrade to an older database, existing users are deleted. The database returns to default settings. Previously configured users are cleared and the database is empty, that is, the database has the default username - 'admin' and password - 'password'. Since the server is left with the default user database, the change default credential feature is enabled. This means that when the 'admin' user logs on to the database for the first time after a downgrade, the user must mandatorily change the default credential.

Password Set Time

A 'Password set time' is configured for every existing user, to the time when the migration or upgrade occurred. For new users (users created after an upgrade), the Password Set time is configured to the time when the user was created, and the password is set. For users in general (new and existing), the Password Set Time is updated whenever the password is changed.

Configuring Password Expiry Duration

Before you begin

  • You must enable password expiry.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin menu.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the Local User Management pane (opens by default), click Password Expiration Details.

Step 4

In the Password Expiration Details dialog box, update the following fields:

Name Description

Enable Password Expiry check box

Checking this box allows you to configure the Password Expiry Duration. Uncheck the check box to disable it.

Password Expiry Duration field

The time period that you can set for the existing password to expire (from the time you set a new password or modify an existing one). The range is between 1 to 3650 days.

Password History field

The number of occurrences when a password was entered. When this is enabled, you cannot repeat a password. Enter a value between 0 to 5. Entering 0 disables this field.

Notification Period field

Notifies the time by when the password expires. Enter a value between 0 to 15 days. Entering 0 disables this field.

Note 

The notification period time must be lesser than the password expiry duration.

Grace Period field

Time period till when the existing password can still be used, after it expires. Enter a value between 0 to 5 days. Entering 0 disables this field.

Note 

The grace period time must be lesser than the password expiry duration.

Step 5

Click Save Changes.

Step 6

Optionally, click Reset Values to clear the text fields and reset the values you entered. Click Restore Defaults to revert to the default settings.

Enabling Password Expiry

Before you begin

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin menu.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the Local User Management pane (opens by default), click Password Expiration Details.

Step 4

In the Password Expiration Details dialog box, check the Enable Password Expiry check box.

The Password Expiry Duration text field becomes editable and you can configure the duration by entering a number in days.

What to do next

Configure password expiry duration.

LDAP Servers

Cisco IMC supports directory services that organize information in a directory, and manage access to this information. Cisco IMC supports Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), which stores and maintains directory information in a network. In addition, Cisco IMC supports Microsoft Active Directory (AD). 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 Cisco IMC utilizes the Kerberos-based authentication service of LDAP.

When LDAP is enabled in the Cisco IMC, user authentication and role authorization is performed by the LDAP server for user accounts not found in the local user database. The LDAP user authentication format is username@domain.com.

By checking the Enable Encryption check box in the LDAP Settings area, you can require the server to encrypt data sent to the LDAP server.

Configuring the LDAP Server

The Cisco IMC can be configured to use LDAP for user authentication and authorization. To use LDAP, configure users with an attribute that holds the user role and locale information for the Cisco IMC. You can use an existing LDAP attribute that is mapped to the Cisco IMC user roles and locales or you can modify the LDAP 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.


Important

For more information about altering the schema, see the article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727064.aspx.


Note

This example creates a custom attribute named CiscoAVPair, but you can also use an existing LDAP attribute that is mapped to the Cisco IMC user roles and locales.

If you are using Group Authorization on the Cisco IMC LDAP configuration, then you can skip Steps 1-4 and perform the steps listed in the Configuring LDAP Settings and Group Authorization in Cisco IMC section.

The following steps must be performed on the LDAP server.

Procedure

Step 1

Ensure that the LDAP schema snap-in is installed.

Step 2

Using the 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 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 Cisco IMC:

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 Cisco IMC to configure the LDAP server.

Configuring LDAP Settings and Group Authorization in Cisco IMC

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to perform this task.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin menu.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click LDAP.

Step 4

In the LDAP Settings area, update the following properties:

Name Description

Enable LDAP check box

If checked, user authentication and role authorization is performed first by the LDAP server, followed by user accounts that are not found in the local user database.

Base DN field

Base Distinguished Name. This field describes where to load users and groups from.

It must be in the dc=domain,dc=com format for Active Directory servers.

Domain field

The IPv4 domain that all users must be in.

This field is required unless you specify at least one Global Catalog server address.

Enable Encryption check box

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

Enable Binding CA Certificate check box

If checked, allows you to bind the LDAP CA certificate.

Timeout (0 - 180) seconds

The number of seconds the Cisco IMC waits until the LDAP search operation times out.

If the search operation times out, Cisco IMC tries to connect to the next server listed on this tab, if one is available.

Note 

The value you specify for this field could impact the overall time.

User Search Precedence

Allows you to specify the order of search between the local user database and LDAP user database. This can be one of the following:

  • Local User Database (Default setting)

  • LDAP User Database

Note 

If you checked the Enable Encryption and the Enable Binding CA Certificate check boxes, enter the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the LDAP server in the LDAP Server field. To resolve the FQDN of the LDAP server, configure the preferred DNS of Cisco IMC network with the appropriate DNS IP address.

Step 5

In the Configure LDAP Servers area, update the following properties:

Name Description

Pre-Configure LDAP Servers radio button

If checked, the Active Directory uses the pre-configured LDAP servers.

LDAP Servers fields

Server

The IP address of the 6 LDAP servers.

If you are using Active Directory for LDAP, then servers 1, 2 and 3 are domain controllers, while servers 4, 5 and 6 are Global Catalogs. If you are not Active Directory for LDAP, then you can configure a maximum of 6 LDAP servers.

Note 

You can provide the IP address of the host name as well.

Port

The port numbers for the servers.

If you are using Active Directory for LDAP, then for servers 1, 2 and 3, which are domain controllers, the default port number is 389. For servers 4, 5 and 6, which are Global Catalogs, the default port number is 3268.

LDAPS communication occurs over the TCP 636 port. LDAPS communication to a global catalog server occurs over TCP 3269 port.

Use DNS to Configure LDAP Servers radio button

If checked, you can use DNS to configure access to the LDAP servers.

DNS Parameters fields

Source

Specifies how to obtain the domain name used for the DNS SRV request. It can be one of the following:

  • Extracted—specifies using domain name extracted-domain from the login ID

  • Configured—specifies using the configured-search domain.

  • Configured-Extracted—specifies using the domain name extracted from the login ID than the configured-search domain.

Domain to Search

A configured domain name that acts as a source for a DNS query.

This field is disabled if the source is specified as Extracted.

Forest to Search

A configured forest name that acts as a source for a DNS query.

This field is disabled if the source is specified as Extracted.

Step 6

In the Binding Parameters area, update the following properties:

Name Description

Method

It can be one of the following:

  • Anonymous—requires NULL username and password. If this option is selected and the LDAP server is configured for Anonymous logins, then the user can gain access.

  • Configured Credentials—requires a known set of credentials to be specified for the initial bind process. If the initial bind process succeeds, then the distinguished name (DN) of the user name is queried and re-used for the re-binding process. If the re-binding process fails, then the user is denied access.

  • Login Credentials—requires the user credentials. If the bind process fails, the user is denied access.

    By default, the Login Credentials option is selected.

Binding DN

The distinguished name (DN) of the user. This field is editable only if you have selected Configured Credentials option as the binding method.

Password

The password of the user. This field is editable only if you have selected Configured Credentials option as the binding method.

Step 7

In the Search Parameters area, update the following fields:

Name Description

Filter Attribute

This field must match the configured attribute in the schema on the LDAP server.

By default, this field displays sAMAccountName.

Group Attribute

This field must match the configured attribute in the schema on the LDAP server.

By default, this field displays memberOf.

Attribute

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 can use an existing LDAP attribute that is mapped to the Cisco IMC user roles and locales, or can modify the schema such that a new LDAP attribute can be created. For example, CiscoAvPair.

Nested Group Search Depth (1-128)

Parameter to search for an LDAP group nested within another defined group in an LDAP group map. The parameter defines the depth of a nested group search.

Step 8

(Optional) In the Group Authorization area, update the following properties:

Name Description

LDAP Group Authorization check box

If checked, user authentication is also done on the group level for LDAP users that are not found in the local user database.

If you check this box, Cisco IMC enables the Configure Group button.

Nested Group Search Depth (1-128)

Parameter to search for an LDAP group nested within another defined group in an LDAP group map. The parameter defines the depth of a nested group search.

Group Name column

The name of the group in the LDAP server database that is authorized to access the server.

Group Domain column

The LDAP server domain the group must reside in.

Role column

The role assigned to all users in this LDAP server group. This can be one of the following:

  • read-only—A user with this role can view information but cannot make any changes.

  • user—A user with this role can perform the following tasks:

    • 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

    • Ping

  • admin—A user with this role can perform all actions available through the GUI, CLI, and IPMI.

Configure button

Configures an active directory group.

Delete button

Deletes an existing LDAP group.

Step 9

Click Save Changes.

Setting User Search Precedence

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to perform this task.

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 LDAP tab.

Step 4

In the LDAP Settings area's User Search Precedence field, select Local User Database or LDAP User Database.

This field allows you to specify the order of search between the above options. Local User Database is the default option.

What to do next

LDAP Certificates Overview

Cisco C-series servers allow an LDAP client to validate a directory server certificate against an installed CA certificate or chained CA certificate during an LDAP binding step. This feature is introduced in the event where anyone can duplicate a directory server for user authentication and cause a security breach due to the inability to enter a trusted point or chained certificate into the Cisco IMC for remote user authentication.

An LDAP client needs a new configuration option to validate the directory server certificate during the encrypted TLS/SSL communication.

Viewing LDAP CA Certificate Status

Procedure
Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click the LDAP tab.

Step 4

In the Certificate Status area, view the following fields:

Name Description

Download Status

This field displays the status of the LDAP CA certificate download.

Export Status

This field displays the status of the LDAP CA certificate export.

Exporting an LDAP CA Certificate

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to perform this action.

You should have downloaded a signed LDAP CA Certificate before you can export it.

Procedure
Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click the LDAP tab.

Step 4

Click the Export LDAP CA Certificate link.

The Export LDAP CA Certificate dialog box appears.

Name

Description

Export to Remote Location

Selecting this option allows you to choose the certificate from a remote location and export it. Enter the following details:

    • TFTP Server

    • FTP Server

    • SFTP Server

    • SCP Server

    • HTTP Server

    Note 

    If you chose SCP or SFTP as the remote server type while performing this action, a pop-up window is displayed with the message Server (RSA) key fingerprint is <server_finger_print _ID> Do you wish to continue?. Click Yes or No depending on the authenticity of the server fingerprint.

    The fingerprint is based on the host's public key and helps you to identify or verify the host you are connecting to.

  • Server IP/Hostname field — The IP address or hostname of the server on which the LDAP CA certificate file should be exported. Depending on the setting in the Download Certificate from drop-down list, the name of the field may vary.

  • Path and Filename field — The path and filename Cisco IMC should use when downloading the certificate from the remote server.

  • Username field — The username the system should use to log in to the remote server. This field does not apply if the protocol is TFTP or HTTP.

  • Password field — The password for the remote server username. This field does not apply if the protocol is TFTP or HTTP.

Export to Local Desktop

Selecting this option allows you to choose the certificate stored on a drive that is local to the computer and export it.

Step 5

Click Export Certificate.

Downloading an LDAP CA Certificate

Before you begin

  • You must log in as a user with admin privileges to perform this action.

  • You must enable Binding CA Certificate to perform this action.


Note

Only CA certificates or chained CA certificates must be used in Cisco IMC. By default, CA certificate is in .cer format. If it is a chained CA certificate, then it needs to be converted to .cer format before downloading it to Cisco IMC.

Procedure
Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click the LDAP tab.

Step 4

Click the Download LDAP CA Certificate link.

The Download LDAP CA Certificate dialog box appears.

Name Description

Download from remote location radio button

Selecting this option allows you to choose the certificate from a remote location and download it. Enter the following details:

    • TFTP Server

    • FTP Server

    • SFTP Server

    • SCP Server

    • HTTP Server

    Note 

    If you chose SCP or SFTP as the remote server type while performing this action, a pop-up window is displayed with the message Server (RSA) key fingerprint is <server_finger_print _ID> Do you wish to continue?. Click Yes or No depending on the authenticity of the server fingerprint.

    The fingerprint is based on the host's public key and helps you to identify or verify the host you are connecting to.

  • Server IP/Hostname field — The IP address or hostname of the server on which the LDAP CA certificate file should be stored. Depending on the setting in the Download Certificate from drop-down list, the name of the field may vary.

  • Path and Filename field — The path and filename Cisco IMC should use when downloading the file to the remote server.

  • Username field — The username the system should use to log in to the remote server. This field does not apply if the protocol is TFTP or HTTP.

  • Password field — The password for the remote server username. This field does not apply if the protocol is TFTP or HTTP.

Download through browser client radio button

Selecting this option allows you to navigate to the certificate stored on a drive that is local to the computer running the Cisco IMC GUI.

When you select this option, Cisco IMC GUI displays a Browse button that lets you navigate to the file you want to import.

Paste Certificate content radio button

Selecting this option allows you to copy the entire content of the signed certificate and paste it in the Paste certificate content text field.

Note 

Ensure the certificate is signed before uploading.

Download Certificate button

Allows you to download the certificate to the server.

Testing LDAP Binding

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to perform this action.


Note

If you checked the Enable Encryption and the Enable Binding CA Certificate check boxes, enter the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the LDAP server in the LDAP Server field. To resolve the FQDN of the LDAP server, configure the preferred DNS of Cisco IMC network with the appropriate DNS IP address.

Procedure
Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click the LDAP tab.

Step 4

Click the Test LDAP Binding link.

The Test LDAP CA Certificate Binding dialog box appears.

Name Description

Username field

Enter the user name.

Password field

Enter the corresponding password.

Step 5

Click Test.

Deleting an LDAP CA Certificate

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to perform this action.

Procedure
Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click the LDAP tab.

Step 4

Click the Delete LDAP CA Certificate link and click OK to confirm.

Viewing User Sessions

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Admin menu.

Step 2

In the Admin menu, click User Management.

Step 3

In the User Management pane, click Session Management.

Step 4

In the Sessions pane, view the following information about current user sessions:

Name Description

Terminate Session button

If your user account is assigned the admin user role, this option enables you to force the associated user session to end.

Note 

You cannot terminate your current session from this tab.

Session ID column

The unique identifier for the session.

User name column

The username for the user.

IP Address column

The IP address from which the user accessed the server. If this is a serial connection, it displays N/A.

Type column

The type of session the user chose to access the server. This can be one of the following:

  • webgui— indicates the user is connected to the server using the web UI.

  • CLI— indicates the user is connected to the server using CLI.

  • serial— indicates the user is connected to the server using the serial port.

Action column

This column displays N/A when the SOL is enabled and Terminate when the SOL is disabled. You can terminate a session by clicking Terminate on the web UI.