QPWDLVL

Overall Password Level

PowerTech recommendation: 1 or 3

Importance: Medium

Purpose: IBM introduced a new encryption method for storing of password in V5R1. Up to 128 character long passwords are supported and the passwords are case sensitive. The passwords are stored more securely on the system and the longer limit allows users to create more secure passwords.

Possible values for this setting are:

• 0 = Short passwords using a limited character set.

• 1 = Short passwords using a limited character set.

• Disable iSeries NetServer on Windows

• (R) 95/98/ME clients.

• 2 = Long passwords using an unlimited character set.

• 3 = Long passwords using an unlimited character set. Disable iSeries NetServer on Windows(R) 95/98/ME clients.

Risks/Concerns: The system value may allow the creation of passwords that are too strong for other systems that the System i communicates with.

It may have to be set back to level 0 or 1 if the System i communicates with any of the following:

• An older pre-V5R1 system

• Any other system that limits the length of passwords from 1-10 characters

• PCs that are using Client Access V5R1 or earlier

At level 1 and 3, iSeries NetServer on Windows (95/98/ME) passwords are removed from the system because of security concerns with the weak encryption used for NetServer passwords.*

*Source: iSeries Information Center for V5R3