SCO Unix ® FAQ section

This article is from a FAQ concerning SCO operating systems. While some of the information may be applicable to any OS, or any Unix or Linux OS, it may be specific to SCO Xenix, Open Desktop or Openserver.

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OSR5 FAQ

Why do I get "can't find user in protected password database" in syslog?

These simply mean that someone telneted to the box and logged in incorrectly.

Cannot access terminal control database entry

This means that SCO's TCB files are munged - someone has used a tyy that the system doesn't think exists. To bring everything in line, try (as root):

ttyupd 
/tcb/bin/ale /etc/auth/system/ttys pttyupd
 

4 comments

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I get this all the time in syslog and it goes all through the night. It can't possibly be a user trying to login.

Anyone out there able to help?

ian@pciltd.co.uk

Mar 17 13:11:54 allelsvr rlogind[12349]: can't find user in protected password
database
Mar 17 13:12:56 allelsvr rlogind[12369]: can't find user in protected password
database
Mar 17 13:13:58 allelsvr rlogind[12422]: can't find user in protected password
database
Mar 17 13:15:01 allelsvr rlogind[12496]: can't find user in protected password
database

--

Perhaps not, but it can be a book on a keyboard..

--TonyLawrence






Fri Aug 12 07:04:26 2005:   Goper


I have this problem too. In my syslog is:

Aug 11 23:37:25 krak5 telnetd[16457]: can't find user in protected password database
Aug 11 23:37:25 krak5 telnetd[16457]: can't find user in protected password database
Aug 11 23:37:25 krak5 telnetd[16457]: can't find user in protected password database

That's impossible that somebody try to login to system at this time in my Firm.



Fri Aug 12 09:33:05 2005:   TonyLawrence


Is it impossible that a keyboard is stuck somewhere?

The activity has to come from somewhere: telnetd saw something.



Thu Dec 28 20:22:35 2006:   anonymous


I have the same error
server telnetd[3516]: can't find user in protected password database
server telnetd[3704]: can't find user in protected password database
server telnetd[6921]: can't find user in protected password database




Thu Dec 28 20:49:48 2006:   TonyLawrence


Then you have the same problem..

This is either somewone actually trying to login or a stuck keyboard.. it's as simple as that.

See http://aplawrence.com/Tests/SCO/q0389.html also.

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