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The issue you're encountering with installp on AIX 7.2.0-05-08-2420 is unusual and concerning, especially because it impacts sshd and causes a termination during package installation.
1. Understanding the Problem
- Command Used:
installp -pu openssl.base 2>&1
- The redirection of
stderr to stdout (2>&1) seems to trigger the issue.
- Symptom:
sshd terminates unexpectedly with Received signal 15; terminating.- The service shows as inoperative (
lssrc -s sshd).
- Affected Environments: At least two separate environments.
2. Possible Causes
This behavior could stem from:
- Signal Interference: The
installp process might unintentionally interfere with signal handling in sshd when error output is redirected.
- Bug in
bos.rte.install: The version 7.2.5.207 of bos.rte.install could have a defect causing conflicts when certain system resources are accessed during installp execution.
- Conflict with OpenSSL Package: Installing or previewing (
-pu) openssl.base might inadvertently touch libraries or processes that sshd depends on.
- Logging Mechanism Interaction: Redirecting
stderr to stdout might cause a buffer issue or interaction with system logging daemons (syslog).
3. Mitigation Steps
Here are some potential solutions to investigate:
A. Avoid Redirection
Run the installp command without redirecting stderr to stdout:
Redirect the output only after command execution, if necessary:
B. Restart sshd Post-Issue
If sshd is terminated, restart it manually to recover:
If you're using an HMC, verify network configurations and try remote access recovery if needed.
C. Update bos.rte.install
There might be a newer fix available for bos.rte.install. Check the IBM Fix Central for updates or interim fixes:
- Visit IBM Fix Central.
- Search for
bos.rte.install for your specific AIX version (7.2.5.207).
D. Use an Alternative Terminal
If the issue is consistent with SSH sessions, try executing the command via:
- HMC Console: Using
vterm (you mentioned the issue also occurred here, but double-check with minimal environment settings).
- Direct Console: Local console access to the server.
E. Log More Details
Increase the verbosity of the installp command for debugging:
This may provide more insight into where the issue originates.
F. Check Logs
Review logs in /var/adm/ras/ or /var/log/ for additional details, particularly:
/var/log/syslog/var/log/auth.log
G. Open a Support Case
If the issue persists, report it to IBM:
- Gather diagnostic information:
- Run
snap -a to collect system information.
- Include logs and details about reproduction steps.
4. Preventative Measures
- Back Up SSH Configuration: Keep a backup of
/etc/ssh/sshd_config and related settings before running updates.
- Monitor System Updates: Regularly apply maintenance updates to avoid potential bugs in older components.
- Avoid System-Level Redirections: Be cautious with redirections in commands that interact with critical system services.
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Saif Ali Sabri
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Original Message:
Sent: Wed November 27, 2024 07:25 AM
From: Plamen Tanovski
Subject: installp -pu
Hi,
I run into a very ugly issue with installp on AIX 7200-05-08-2420: runnig installp -pu openssl.base 2>&1 or other "network" package which ends with FAILURE just terminates sshd! A log message appears: auth|security:info sshd[13435242]: Received signal 15; terminating.After that lssrc -s sshd shown inoperative. Same error even if the command is issued via HMC vterm. The issue occurs only when redirecting stderr to stdout. I can reproduce this at least on two different environments.
Version: bos.rte.install 7.2.5.207
Best regards,
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Plamen Tanovski
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