Automatic and Manual GuardPoints

The following table lists the type of GuardPoints depending on the platform and type of the policy type:

A GuardPoint is usually applied immediately after it is configured on the CipherTrust Data Security Platform Service GUI; however, it can be applied later on the client system.

When would you want to apply the GuardPoint later? Consider the case of a 2-node cluster configured as active/passive in a cluster environment, such VCS, HACMP, or MSCS. There are two nodes, one which is currently active and the other that is currently inactive. Both nodes are locked.

Apply GuardPoint protection to active nodes only. You should never apply a GuardPoint to a passive node. If the active node develops a problem and tries to switch over to the inactive node, the cluster process fails to switch over because the mirror directory on the inactive node is currently mounted on the active node.

The solution is, for the cluster process to unmount (for example, unguard) the currently active node:

1. Place it in an inactive state.

2. Place the old inactive node in an active state.

3. Mount (for example, guard) the mirror directory on the newly active node.

Generally, when you get error messages, check that only active nodes are properly guarded.

When an auto GuardPoint is applied, regardless of whether it is a file system directory or a raw device, the change is pushed to the client system, and the GuardPoint is applied immediately.

Use the df command to display secfs mounts (for example, GuardPoints) or secfsd to display the GuardPoints themselves. The secfsd output shows a guard type of local for directories configured with Directory (Auto Guard).

Run:

df

Output:

Filesystem  1K-blocks   Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/mapper/VolGroup00-LogVol00
40123784    11352236    26733380    30% /
/dev/sda1   101086  14590   81277   16% /boot
none    254492  0   254492  0% /dev/shm
/opt/vormetric/DataSecurityExpert/agent/secfs/.sec
40123784    11352236    26733380    30%
/opt/vormetric/DataSecurityExpert/agent/secfs/.sec
/opt/apps/apps1/tmp 40123784    11352236    26733380    30% /opt/apps/apps1/tmp
/opt/apps/apps1/lib 40123784    11352236    26733380    30% /opt/apps/apps1/lib
/opt/apps/apps1/doc 40123784    11352236    26733380    30% /opt/apps/apps1/doc

Run:

secfsd -status guard

Output:

GuardPoint  Policy  Type    ConfigState Status Reason
----------  ------  ----    --------    ------  ---
/opt/apps/apps1/tmp allowAllOps_fs  local   guarded guarded N/A
/opt/apps/apps1/lib allowAllRootUsers_fs    local   guarded guarded N/A
/opt/apps/apps1/doc allowAllOps-winusers1_fs local  guarded guarded N/A

When a manual GuardPoint is applied, regardless if it is a file system directory or a raw device, the change is pushed to the client system only. The client is aware of the GuardPoint but the client does not mount it. This is indicated in the Type column of the secfsd -status guard command output.

For example, the GuardPoint /opt/apps/apps2/bin has been configured with Manual Directory, so the guard type is set to manual.

secfsd -status guard

Output:

GuardPoint  Policy  Type    ConfigState Status Reason
----------  ------  ----    --------    ------  ---
/opt/apps/apps1/tmp allowAllOps_fs  local   guarded guarded N/A
/opt/apps/apps1/lib allowAllRootUsers_fs    local   guarded guarded N/A
/opt/apps/apps1/doc allowAllOps-winusers1_fs local  guarded guarded N/A
/opt/apps/apps2/bin HR_policy01 manual  unguarded   not guarded Inactive

Note the Type value. A Type of manual indicates a manual GuardPoint. A Type of local indicates an automatic GuardPoint.

A manually applied GuardPoint remains Inactive until the GuardPoint is applied on the client. After the GuardPoint is applied on the client, and the client communicates the change to the server, the status changes to Active. It returns to the Inactive state when the GuardPoint is manually unguarded.

Use the secfsd command to guard and unguard Manual GuardPoints. The secfsd command syntax is:

To guard, run:

secfsd -guard path

To unguard, run:

secfsd -unguard path

Example

To manually guard and unguard a file system directory:

1. As CipherTrust Data Security Platform Service administrator, configure a GuardPoint with the type Manual Directory.

2. Log on to the client as an administrator with root permissions.

3. Wait until the configuration change is downloaded to the Agent system.

4. Run the status command until the manual GuardPoint is displayed.

   Run:

   secfsd -status guard
   

   Output:

   GuardPoint  Policy  Type    ConfigState Status  Reason
   ----------  ------  ----    ----------- ------  ------
   /opt/apps/etc   allowAllOps_fs  manual unguarded    not guarded N/A
   /opt/apps/lib/dx3 allowAllOps_fs    local   guarded guarded N/A
   

5. Enable the GuardPoint.

   Run:

   secfsd -guard /opt/apps/apps2/bin
   

   Output:

   secfsd: Guard initiated
   

   The manual GuardPoint is active and the policy is enforced.

6. Disable the GuardPoint.

   Run:

   secfsd -unguard /opt/apps/apps2/bin
   

   Output:

   secfsd: Unguard initiated