I'm trying to add some interfaces to our Big-IP VM and it isn't going well. When I add the interfaces, we already have 4 defined, we lose access to the configuration GUI and SSH access to the VM. The only way to access the Big-IP is through the console from the Virtual Center GUI. This is a documented problem with running Big-IP under VMware (CR 137616) but the workaround doesn't work for us. It says to run the command "rm /var/db/mcpd*", which we can't from the TMSH shell. Any ideas how to get this thing working would be greatly appreciated.

Can you not log in with an account that has Bash access? Can you do the following: 'run /util bash'

No, we can't run "run /util bash". We get the message "bash access has been disabled".

You need to add advanced shell access to your account on the device. This will allow you to log in with Bash access. Then when you want to run TMSH commands you just type TMSH and it will put you in there.

OK, how do I add advanced shell access to an account. It is not an option when I go into the configuration GUI -> System -> Users. I'm new to he F5.

Hi, Can you tell us which role is assigned to your user ? You should find Advanced Shell into "Terminal Access" parameter.

Problem adding network interface to VM for Big-IP 11.3

33 Replies

Thomas_Gobet_91
Cirrostratus
Dec 19, 2013
That makes no difference which version your BIG-IP is.

You have 2 options to connect into bash :

Create an other user account to give adminitrator role with advanced shell allowed.
Use root account which has advanced shell rights.
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Just tried to add another user. Selected "Administrator" as role but there were only 2 choices for Terminal Access, "Disabled" or "tmsh". This is getting very frustrating. I even placed a call to F5 support yesterday and haven't heard anything back yet. I can't believe anyone would actually pay money for this product.
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  We are unable to login as root. I've been told once the initial setup config has run, root is disabled.
Thomas_Gobet
Nimbostratus
Dec 19, 2013
That makes no difference which version your BIG-IP is.

You have 2 options to connect into bash :

Create an other user account to give adminitrator role with advanced shell allowed.
Use root account which has advanced shell rights.
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Just tried to add another user. Selected "Administrator" as role but there were only 2 choices for Terminal Access, "Disabled" or "tmsh". This is getting very frustrating. I even placed a call to F5 support yesterday and haven't heard anything back yet. I can't believe anyone would actually pay money for this product.
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  We are unable to login as root. I've been told once the initial setup config has run, root is disabled.
Thomas_Gobet
Nimbostratus
Dec 19, 2013
And what about using root account ? Can you tell us what version you're running on (not VE, lab or something like that) but the result of this command :

show sys version
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Results are: Product BIG-IP Version 11.3.0 Build 2806.0 Edition Final Date Tue Nov 13 22:34:00 PST 2012
Thomas_Gobet_91
Cirrostratus
Dec 19, 2013
And what about using root account ? Can you tell us what version you're running on (not VE, lab or something like that) but the result of this command :

show sys version
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Results are: Product BIG-IP Version 11.3.0 Build 2806.0 Edition Final Date Tue Nov 13 22:34:00 PST 2012
Thomas_Gobet
Nimbostratus
Dec 19, 2013
No it's not, root account is still enabled once initial setup is done.

But what can be different is the password.
Thomas_Gobet
Nimbostratus
Dec 19, 2013
Can you try to connect you with the root account and use the default password which is : default

About your issue on user creation, are you using partition ?

Because only users created under "Common" partition can have "Advanced shell" access.
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Tried root with default password and what we set it to initially. Received "access denied" message. When creating a user I don't get to set a partition. A current user that has Common as the partition and Administrator role only has either "Disabled" or "tmsh" as Terminal Access choices.
Thomas_Gobet_91
Cirrostratus
Dec 19, 2013
Can you try to connect you with the root account and use the default password which is : default

About your issue on user creation, are you using partition ?

Because only users created under "Common" partition can have "Advanced shell" access.
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Tried root with default password and what we set it to initially. Received "access denied" message. When creating a user I don't get to set a partition. A current user that has Common as the partition and Administrator role only has either "Disabled" or "tmsh" as Terminal Access choices.
Thomas_Gobet_91
Cirrostratus
Dec 19, 2013
Can you try to follow this solution to reset your root account password ?

http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/13000/100/sol13121.html
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Tried this and it did not work. Booted in single user mode and used the passwd command to change root's password. It says it worked, but after reboot was unable to log in as root.
Thomas_Gobet
Nimbostratus
Dec 19, 2013
Can you try to follow this solution to reset your root account password ?

http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/13000/100/sol13121.html
- Dennis_Caffi_11
  Nimbostratus
  Dec 19, 2013
  Tried this and it did not work. Booted in single user mode and used the passwd command to change root's password. It says it worked, but after reboot was unable to log in as root.
Kevin_Stewart
Employee
Dec 20, 2013
Do you by chance have appliance mode licensed?