Do you often encounter errors while executing the command to get initial credentials through Kerberos authentication? It's an issue that troubles system administrators and developers alike. One such frequently encountered error is “Kinit password incorrect”, which shows up while trying to get initial credentials.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the causes of the ‘Kinit password incorrect’ error and how to rectify them efficiently.
What is Kinit Password Incorrect Error?
Kinit is a tool from MIT Kerberos 5 (Kerberos v5) that allows a user to authenticate to a specified Key Distribution Center (KDC). The password incorrect error is triggered when there’s a mismatch between the password specified in the principal and password the user uses in the login.
Causes of Kinit Password Incorrect Error
There are a few common causes for this error:
- Incorrect or wrong password for kinit.
- Kerberos principal is not in a valid format.
- Wrong date or time on the server.
- Principal accounts are disabled or expired on KDC.
In most cases, the user simply specifies an incorrect password while attempting to get the initial credentials.
Fixing Kinit Password Incorrect Error
To fix the Kinit password incorrect error and get the initial credentials, the user must carry out the following steps:
First, enable debugging by including the -V flag in the Kinit command. This will enable the output of the KDC protocol exchanges and result in a more accurate analysis.
Ensure that the Kerberos principal is in a valid format. If you are using Active Directory or LDAP for authentication, the principal’s name must use the domain format like [email protected]
Check the time on the server. If the Kerberos server and client can’t agree on the time, authentication will fail.
- Finally, check if the principal accounts of the users are disabled or expired on the KDC.
FAQs
What is Kinit?
Kinit is a tool from MIT Kerberos 5 (Kerberos v5) that allows a user to authenticate to a specified Key Distribution Center (KDC).
What does 'Kinit Password Incorrect' error mean?
The error implies that Kinit is unable to authenticate the user in the specified KDC because either the password doesn't match or the other credentials don't match the specifications.
Why do I get ‘Kinit password incorrect’ error?
The most common cause of this error is when the user specifies an incorrect password or an invalid password. You may also encounter this error if the Kerberos principal is in not in the correct format or if there is an issue with the date and time of the server.
How do I fix 'Kinit Password Incorrect' error?
To fix the Kinit password incorrect error and get the initial credentials, the user must carry out the following steps:
- Enable debugging by including the -V flag in the Kinit command
- Ensure that the Kerberos principal is in a valid format
- Check the time on the server
- Check if the principal accounts of the users are disabled or expired on the KDC
What else can I do to prevent 'Kinit Password Incorrect' error?
To prevent 'Kinit Password Incorrect' error from recurring, you should:
- Keep the password secure and do not share it with anyone
- Make sure the Kerberos principal is always in the correct format
- Keep the time and date of the server updated
- Check the principal accounts regularly and ensure them are active and not expired