Don't know whether to laugh or cry department:
 
The whole issue of the implementation by HP of
passwords on the system hardware diagnostic utilities
(after HP said they would not do that) was discussed
earlier in this forum.  Here is a little more info on how the
implementation of this little project is playing out at the
detail level;  i.e:  a user (me) tries to comply with the new
password requirements so that if need be I can use the
diagnostics:
 
Following the direction in the "Dear Support Customer"
letter that HP sent out on this subject, a few weeks ago I
called 800-538-1733 and requested the password;  sent
in the FAX;  waited........  waited some more.......  called
them back this week;  got someone who was proactively
helpful;  they FAXed me back the password on 16 Jan.
Did the install thing;  password accepted;  so far so good.
 
BUT:  On the FAX page that HP License Admin sent back
to me that tells me what the password is, there was also a
short statement that caught my eye:
 
"The following password will unlock the diagnostics on your
HP3000 machines from Aug 1, 1994 through Jan 31, 1995.";
i.e:  a hardwired cutoff date;  followed by:
 
"A new password will be required to run these diagnostics
every 6 months, beginning on Feb 1 and Aug 1 of each year.".
 
At this point I believe I come down at least at the
*******  GLOWING EMBERS ON  ******* level;  i.e:
 
I just got the diagnostics password sent to me on 16 Jan.
But now it's going to expire two weeks after I got it.  So HP
expects me to waste time going through the whole process
again two weeks after I just did it;  and then every six months
thereafter;  in a cycle that is totally out of sync with renewal
date for our software support contract ??  !@#$%^&*(_+\  !!
Aw come on, HP !!
 
WAIT:   Believe it or not, it gets worse:
I call that 800 number in the Dear Customer letter again, to
review all this, and if there is no way around it, to go through
the process again to apply for a new password that I can use
on 1 Feb after the password I just got expires (Grrrrrrr.....).
 
This time the person that answers pretty much doesn't know
what I am talking about when I mention this subject, and tells
me that I need to call the HP Password Center at another 800
number.  I call the other number.  They say no, the first number
is the right one.  I call the first number back.  This time I am in
luck:  The helpful person I first talked to a week ago is now
available;  he knows the whole story.  He is also pretty clearly
a little embarrased, because the straight answer to my request
for another new password that will work starting 1 Feb is:
THERE IS NO NEW PASSWORD !!  .........  At least not yet:
 
Apparently the person in charge of this project has been out
sick for 3+ weeks, and the password for the next six months
has not been set up yet.  Sooooo:   If this password is not
available in 9 working days;  meaning if it is not actually out
at all customer sites that need it by 31 Jan, access to all the
hardware diagnostic utilities that are passworded will be
turned off for ALL HP 3000 customers .....  I guess, huh ??
THIS IS UNSAT !!!!
 
IMHO, at the very least these passwords ought to be good for
one year, and they should be synchronized with the expiration
date of a site's software support contract.....  Better yet, maybe
HP could just do a mea culpa and publish the password ??
The real "protection value" of a password that goes to massive
multiple sites is questionable at best in any case..........
 
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Ken Sletten                                      Tel:  206-396-2525
NUWC Division Keyport               Fax: 206-396-5183
Code 3312, Building 894
Keyport, WA  98345
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