Technical Notes

Password Caching in Reflection X version 13.0 - 14.x
Technical Note 1584
Last Reviewed 31-May-2006
Applies To
Reflection X version 13.0 through 14.x
Reflection Suite for X version 13.0 through 14.x
Summary

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.

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 stored in an encrypted form 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 (in encrypted form) 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

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, or you can enable password caching before Reflection X is deployed by using an installation transform.

Enabling Password Caching After Installation

Password caching can be enabled at any time after installation by running 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. Click Start and then click Run.
3. Click Browse and navigate to Reflection installation folder (by default, Program Files/Reflection).
4. Select Regconv (this file may appear as Regconv.exe) and click Open.
5. In the Open field, add the -pw parameter to the end of the command line. Once edited, the command line should look similar to the following:

6. Click OK.
7. A Reflection X Registry Utility dialog box opens. Click Yes when prompted to create a PasswordID at destination "config."

Deploying Reflection X with Password Caching Enabled

If you want password caching enabled for your users when they install Reflection X, you can edit the transform before you deploy Reflection X. Follow the steps below to enable Reflection X password caching for multiple workstation installations.

1. Install Reflection X to an administrative installation point using the Administrative install option.
2. If not already installed, install the Reflection Customization Manager to your PC.

3. Start the Customization Manager (Deployment Manager) from the Reflection Administrative Tools folder.
4. Click Customize Reflection Installation > Open Installation.
5. Select the appropriate MSI installer package and click OK.
6. Select the installer transform file you wish to configure or create a new one. Click OK.
7. Click Set Installation Options.
8. In the Set Installation Settings dialog box, click Applications.
9. In the Set Applications Properties dialog box, select the "Save Reflection X client passwords" check box.
10. Click OK until you return to the Reflection Customization (Deployment) Manager.
11. A comment will now appear to the right of the Set Installation Options feature, noting that customizations have been made.

When this transform is used to deploy Reflection X, all Reflection X installations will have password caching enabled.

Note: When upgrading a Reflection X installation that has password caching enabled to a new profiled Reflection X version with password caching enabled, the cached passwords are not retained; the passwords must be saved again. However, note that cached passwords are retained when you apply a patch.

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).

Related Technical Notes

9992	Reflection X Technical Notes