Smarts NCM: F5 Rev11 C106 Devices are not able to gather logs

Products

• VMware Smart Assurance

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:




Some F5 Devices aren't able to gather logs or run commands. 

Environment

VMware Smart Assurance - NCM

Cause

When logging into some F5 devices, users and NCM will only login to "TMOS". NCM will run commands that that won't work in the TMOS prompt and require Bash prompt. 

Rev 11 C106 model only the following run commands are available at the TMOS prompt. 

run
options:
/cli script [arguments]
/util ping [arguments]
/util ping6 [arguments]
/util telnet
/util tracepath6 [arguments]
/util traceroute [arguments

NCM is trying to run "run util bash" which is not a valid command at the TMOS prompt. (See below)

ssh#1: RCV-TMEOUT>run util bash
ssh#1: RCV-TMEOUT>Syntax Error: "bash" unexpected argument

Resolution

The work around is to log into the GUI on the F5 Device and do the following:

Under the system, users options in the gui, you can add an account that will authenticate to tacacs+  but login to the bash shell. 

You set the account up as an administrator with advanced shell access.