First-time usage problem: "Enter new password for systemtap server certificate/key database"

[Dave Brolley]

Hi Elijah,

Thanks for trying systemtap! Let me try to address the problems you are 
having with certificates.

Elijah Newren wrote:
> # stap -v -e 'probe vfs.read {printf("read performed\n"); exit()}'
> Pass 1: parsed user script and 59 library script(s) in 170usr/20sys/210real ms.
> Pass 2: analyzed script: 1 probe(s), 11 function(s), 2 embed(s), 1
> global(s) in 360usr/160sys/551real ms.
> Pass 3: translated to C into
> "/tmp/stap3MwYIW/stap_a361f9cac28b917909da3d13c68e9b8c_4882.c" in
> 360usr/120sys/513real ms.
> Enter new password for systemtap server certificate/key database:
>   
This prompt error occurs when systemtap tries to sign the generated 
kernel module for the first time but is unable to generate a password to 
protect the private key for its signing certificate. This should not be 
happening with the latest release (or the latest git) unless you have 
used the --unprivileged option. However some previous systemtap releases 
did attempt to sign all modules. What version of systemtap are you using?

In order to sign the module, systemtap generates its own signing 
certificate with a private key that is password protected. Normally the 
password is self-generated and random, since only systemtap ever needs 
it. The following two methods are tried

mkpasswd -l 20

and

apg -a 1 -n 1 -m 20 -x 20

If these fail, then systemtap prompts for a password. I'm interested in 
the response to the above two commands on your system. Can you please 
try them and post the responses?

If systemtap does prompt for a password, then any old psuedo random 
string will do. You will never need to remember it (in fact, it's 
probably best if you don't!).


> I eventually hit Ctrl-C, and things seemed to
> continue on fine (though I get occasional errors such as "Could not
> obtain information on certificate database file
> /etc/systemtap/ssl/server/cert8.db.").
>
>   
In order to clear the ongoing errors you can remove the 
/etc/systemtap/ssl/server directory. If systemtap prompts you for a 
password again, just enter some random string and you should not be 
prompted again (although as I said above I'm interested in why you were 
prompted in the first place, i.e. why the two automated attempts at 
password generated failed).


Let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Thanks,
Dave