Password Caching in Reflection X 14.x

  • 7021766
  • 31-Aug-2001
  • 25-Mar-2018

Environment

Reflection X version 14.x
Reflection Suite for X version 14.x

Situation

This technical note describes password caching and the limitations that exist when saving client passwords. This note also describes how to enable this feature in Reflection X 14.x.

Resolution

Introduction to Password Caching

Password caching in Reflection X allows the application to save a user's passwords. This feature is disabled by default in Reflection X. If password caching is not turned on, you must type your password each time you make a connection to a host.

If you choose to enable password caching, the passwords are saved as obfuscated text in the Rxhosts.ini file. With this feature enabled, you must type your password once for each host and then save your settings.

On subsequent connections, the passwords are automatically entered as asterisks (*) into the Password box when the host name is specified in the Connection Settings section of the Reflection X Manager. The passwords are also automatically entered when the user selects the customized *.RXC file.

If there are multiple user names associated with a host (that is, you have saved two or more client connection files that connect to the same host but with different user names), the password is automatically entered when you type the host name and the user name.

Note: The password caching value that you configure (enabled or disabled) applies to all servers.

Limitations

Under certain circumstances, password caching is not available to you even if you have enabled this feature.

  • If you use X clients like the DECwindows Session Manager or HPVUE, you must enter your user name and password at the Host login screen.
  • There are four connection methods that do not provide a Password box and thus do not allow you the opportunity to save your client passwords. The Secure Shell (or OpenSSH), RSH, Kerberized Telnet, and the XDMCP connection methods do not display a password box from the Reflection X Manager window. For more information on these connection methods, please refer to the Reflection X online help.

Enabling Password Caching After Installation

By default, password caching is disabled in Reflection X. You can enable password caching after Reflection X is installed by using the Regconv.exe utility from a command line. Follow the steps below to enable Password caching.

Note: Using Regedit to go into the registry hive to turn password caching on will not work.

  1. If you have Reflection X open, close it.
  2. Open a Command Window.
  3. Change directories (CD) to the Reflection installation folder. The location varies based on the Reflection version installed or upgraded from:

Reflection 14.1 that you install with Reflection X 2014 or 2011:

C:\Program Files\Attachmate\Reflection\R14

Reflection 14.x:

C:\Program Files\Attachmate\Reflection

Reflection 13.x and earlier:

C:\Program Files\Reflection
  1. Run Regconv.exe -pw.
  2. Click OK.
  3. A Reflection X Registry Utility dialog box opens. Click Yes when prompted to create a PasswordID at destination "config."

Disabling Password Caching

To disable Reflection X password caching, follow the steps below to set the Password ID to its default value:

  1. Open Reflection X.
  2. Verify that the config server is highlighted under "X server management."
  3. On the menu bar, click Settings > View Settings. (Do not click the Settings button.)
  4. In the Search field, type password id.
  5. Select "Password ID" in the box below the search window.
  6. Click the Default button.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Close and reopen RX.

How to Determine if Password Caching is On

In the Reflection X Manager, look in the Client Connection Settings section. If password caching is turned on, the Password box will be white (not dimmed).

Additional Information

Legacy KB ID

This document was originally published as Attachmate Technical Note 1584.