Use a non-root account with PowerRecon

This article provides instructions on how to use a non-root account with PowerRecon when using a supported Linux source server or a VMware ESX/VMware Infrastructure Server.

PowerRecon v2.5 and higher now includes the abitility to use a non-root account.  In order to use a non-root or "sudo" account with PowerRecon, the following steps are required:

1. Create the new user account:
   
   
   For supported Linux servers or VMware ESX Server type the following command:
   
   useradd -G wheel -m -d /home/psuser psuser    ->   where psuser is the name of the new user account
   
   After creating the new user account, set a password by typing the following command:
   
   passwd psuser
   
   
   
   For supported Solaris servers type the following command:
   
   useradd -G wheel -m -d /export/home/psuser psuser   ->  where psuser is the name of the new user account
   
   After creating the new user account, set a password by typing the following command:
   
   passwd psuser
   
   
   
2. Add the new user account to the sudoers file to allow the user to run the "sudo" command.  As root type:
   
   visudo         
   
   NOTE:  For Solaris, users will need to download the sudo package and install it. By default, visudo is installed under /usr/local/sbin and sudo is installed under /usr/local/bin.  Users will also need to ensure that the /usr/local/bin is set in the PATH statement.  Failure to set the PATH can result in the error even if the sudo package has been already installed on the Solaris server:
   
   "System.Exception: sh: sudo: not found" 
   
   
   
   After issuing the visudo command, the following will be displayed (necessary additions/changes are bold in red):
   
   Linux/Solaris Sample Sudoers file:
   
   # sudoers file.
   #
   # This file MUST be edited with the 'visudo' command as root.
   #
   # See the sudoers man page for the details on how to write a sudoers file.
   #
   
   # Host alias specification
   
   # User alias specification
   
   # Cmnd alias specification
   
   # Defaults specification
   
   # User privilege specification
   root    ALL=(ALL) ALL
   psuser    ALL=(ALL) ALL    ------>  ADDING THIS LINE WILL ALLOW THE NEW USER TO RUN SUDO
   
   # Uncomment to allow people in group wheel to run all commands
   # %wheel        ALL=(ALL) ALL  ------>  UNCOMMENT THIS LINE TO ALLOW WHEEL GROUP MEMBERS TO RUN SUDO
   
   # Same thing without a password
   # %wheel        ALL=(ALL)       NOPASSWD: ALL
   
   NOTE: When modifying the sudoers file please make sure there are no spaces before or after the "=" signs as this will cause failures to occur during the inventory/monitoring process.
   
   VMware ESX Server Sample Sudoers file:
   
   
   #sudoers file.
   #
   #This file MUST be edited with the 'visudo' command as root.
   #
   #See the sudoers man page for the details on how to write a sudoers file.
   #
   
   #Host alias specification
   
   #User alias specification
   
   #Cmnd alias specification
   
   #User privilege specification
   root    ALL=(ALL) ALL
   psuser    ALL=(ALL) ALL    ------>  ADDING THIS LINE WILL ALLOW THE NEW USER TO RUN SUDO
   
   
   
3. Discover the Linux server or the VMware ESX Server using the new user account