[comp.sys.dec] Double login prompts

krf@wucs1.wustl.edu (Kevin R. Fenster) (04/04/91)

Problem:  Using dual protocol terminal servers (LAT & Telnet) to login
to a DECsystem 5500 running Ultrix 4.1 gives the login prompt twice.
If i connect to the 5500 (mickey) I get the initial message and then
the login: prompt.  I enter my login (krf), and I get the login: prompt
again.  Only after I enter 'krf' again, do I get the Password: prompt.
This is somewhat of a nuisance, since I catch myself typing my
password at the second login: prompt, and guess what gets echoed?

We have only had the machine for a couple weeks.  We just started noticing
it yesterday with this problem.  Had some folks from Virginia come out
to install some application software, while my sys admin was getting DECnet
working.  Don't really know who caused the problem, only that I think it
needs to be fixed.

If you watch the activity on the port with 'ps agx', the following is 
observed.  Right after you connect to the machine (and receive the first
login: prompt), there are two telnetd processes running on the network
port (i.e. p0 or ttyp0).  If I type a login name and press return, ps shows
that I have one telnetd process and one 'login -h nwunts6' process on
the port.  Note that nwunts6 is the name of the terminal server.

Entering a login on the second login: prompt and the password, gets you
logged in an this leaves a telnetd process and a csh process on the
port.  Looks fine.

I don't really know where to go from here.  Looking at the manual page
for /usr/bin/login mentions that if a username argument is not passed
to login (I assume from telnetd), then login with give a login: prompt,
rather that a Password prompt.  Is this a hint or a red herring?

We do have phone support with Digital and I will call them, but they are
working on TK70 & tar problem for this machine.  Seems that if you want
to use the TK70 with tar, your whole system performance (as perceived from
network logins) goes to hell real fast.  Might just be more telnet problems.
Software support claims that it is a hardware problem.  So hardware is
coming out tomorrow to "fix" it.  We shall see.

For all you hard core Ultrix types, chew on these.

Thanks for any assistance anyone provides.

Later,
Kevin Fenster
Nebraska Wesleyan University
krf@wucs1.wustl.edu		(I'm trying to get my own email connection)