25
Thu, Apr
1 New Articles

TechTip: New in 6.1, System Value QPWDRULES

Security - Other
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

New password validation rules help you deploy a more effective password formation strategy.

 

In V6R1, the QPWDRULES system value was created to give you more control of how a user profile password is constructed. In the prior release, a number of different system values offered this ability (e.g., QPWDMAXLEN controlled the maximum length of a password, QPWDRQDDGT enforced that there be a digit character, etc.). Having all password rules under the hood of one system value makes things a little tidier and simplifies management of password rules, but you can still use the old system values if you wish by specifying the *PWDSYSVAL parameter on the QPWDRULES system value.

 

Listed below are the parameters offered with the new system value along with explanations of how they function. Some of these parameters have dependencies on others, but I won't go into those in detail here for the sake of simplicity. For example, if you specify *DGTLMTLST and *SPCCHRLMTLST (i.e., the last character of a password must not be a digit and must not be a special character, respectively), then you can't specify *LTRLMTLST (the last character must not be a letter character) because your only option for a last character at that point is a letter character. I've put these in the same order as they appear in the 6.1 Information Center so you can cross-reference and find more details with ease.

 

This system value takes effect the next time a user changes his/her password.

 

*PWDSYSVAL—The QPWDRULES system value is ignored and the old system values are used to construct and enforce the password rules.

 

*CHRLMTAJC—Two adjacent characters in the password are not the same.

 

*CHRLMTREP—The password can't contain the same character twice or more.

 

*DGTLMTAJC—Two adjacent digit characters are not the same.

 

*DGTLMTFST—The first character of a password is not a digit.

 

*DGTLMTLST—The last character of a password is not a digit.

 

*DGTMAXn—This sets the maximum amount of digits allowed in a password, where n is from 0 to 9.

 

*DGTMINn—This sets the minimum number of digits allowed in a password, where n is from 0 to 9.

 

*LMTSAMPOS—The new password must not contain the same character in the corresponding position of the new password. This corresponds to the old QPWDPOSDIF system value.

 

*LMTPRFNAME—The user name must not exist in the password (e.g., user profile bsmith and password bsmith999 is not allowed).

 

*LTRLMTAJC—Consecutive letter characters are not allowed.

 

*LTRLMTFST—The first character of a password must not be a letter.

 

*LTRLMTLST—The last character of a password must not be a letter.

 

*LTRMAXn—The maximum number of letter characters in the password where n is from 0 to 9.

 

*LTRMINn—This sets the minimum number of letter characters in the password, where n is from 0 to 9.

 

*MAXLENnnn—Depending on the QPWDLVL system value, this controls the maximum number of characters allowed in a password. If QPWDLVL is 0 or 1 (stop reading this and investigate moving on up to QPWDLVL 2 or 3), then the maximum password length is 1 to 10 characters; otherwise, it's 1 to 128. This replaces the functionality of the old QPWDMAXLEN system value.

 

*MINLENnnn—This controls the minimum number of characters allowed. If QPWDLVL is 0 or 1 (can you see me shudder?), then the maximum password length is 1 to 10 characters; otherwise, it's 1 to 128.

 

*MIXCASEn—This forces the password to contain n amount of uppercase and lowercase letters, where n is 0 to 9. If QPWDLVL is 0 or 1 (once again, stop reading this and grab the security manual), then this parameter is ignored.

 

*REQANY3—This checks that at least three of the following are contained in the password:

  • Uppercase letters
  • Lowercase letters
  • Digits
  • Special characters

 

*SPCCHRLMTAJC—This disallows adjacent consecutive special characters.

 

*SPCCHRLMTFST—This forces the first position of the password to not be a special character.

 

*SPCCHRLMTLST—This forces the last position of a password to not be a special character.

 

*SPCCHRMAXn—This sets the maximum amount of special characters, where n is 0 to 9.

 

*SPCCHRMINn—This sets the minimum amount of special characters, where n is 0 to 9.

 

Steve Pitcher
Steve Pitcher works with iTech Solutions, an IBM Premier Business Partner. He is a specialist in IBM i and IBM Power Systems solutions since 2001. Feel free to contact him directly This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$0.00 Raised:
$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: