.netrc - File Size Error

[aahan]

Hi,

I have a Korn Shell which creates a dynamic .netrc file, which is then copied to $HOME and then performs a FTP job.

The .netrc is sometimes around 20K bytes too. While tyring to perform the FTP it gives me the following message :

4K macro buffer exceeded

How can I solve this problem ?

Thanks

-HN

 

[gheist]

*** you can patch your aix to later maintenace level
*** you may use ssh/scp where appropriate (trusted_keys and known_hosts will be of use)
!!! which version of AIX are you running?

 

[aahan]

Hi gheist,

I am using AIX ver 4.3 and can you be more explicit in your answer.

How do I patch to a later maintenance level and what does it imply ?

Thanks

 

[gheist]

patching aix implies
downloading 600M patch AIX 4.3.0.0->4.3.3.0.0
following instructions for applying ...
.. 600M 4.3.3.0.0->4.3.3.0.9
......

although holding a big bunch (i assume 1/3 of 20K =6K which is 800 passwords or so) of raw passwords is not necessarily a good idea (try chosing between radius, kerberos, or ssh or anything else)

checked on AIX 4.3.3 ML 09 and seems like a limitation on AIX

$ dd if=/dev/zero of=/usr/home/maita/.netrc count=65 bs=1b
33+0 records in
33+0 records out
$ ftp localhost
Connected to loopback.
220 Wilddog-Localhost-Insecure
Internal error: string too long.
Internal error: string too long.
Name (localhost:maita): ^D
$ oslevel -r
4330-09

if that helps - split your oergrown netrc file in smaller parts to work around the problem