FIPS installed but not working

This document (7016636) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 Service Pack 1 (SLES 12 SP1)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 (SLES 12)
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)


Situation

FIPS is installed, but does not seem to be working in kernel space.

The /etc/default/grub file shows:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=" resume=/dev/disk/by-label/swapspace splash=silent quiet showopts"

The /proc/cmdline shows:
BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.12.28-4-default root=UUID=1ba8a531-3b16-464d-8b80-d9260b4381a7 showopts

The /proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled shows:
0

Resolution

Finish configuring FIPS:
1. Edit /etc/default/grub
2 Add "fips=1" to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT.
2.1 If you don't have a separate boot partition, it may look like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=" resume=/dev/disk/by-label/swapspace splash=silent quiet showopts fips=1"

2.2 If you have a separate boot partition you need to add the boot= parameter as well. For example if /boot is mounted on /dev/sda1, the variable may look like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=" resume=/dev/disk/by-label/swapspace splash=silent quiet showopts fips=1 boot=/dev/sda1"

3. Run grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg to remake the grub.cfg file.
4. Run mkinitrd
5. Reboot

2.3 If you do not have a separate boot partition, DO NOT use boot=/dev/sda1. The device is usually the vfat /boot/efi device and will result in an error 'Warning: dracut: FATAL: FIPS integrity test failed'. To see if you have a separate boot partition run: mount | grep boot. If there is no /boot mount point, you do not have a separate boot partition and boot= will cause a boot failure.



Cause

FIPS is not configured properly to run in kernel mode.

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:7016636
  • Creation Date: 25-Jun-2015
  • Modified Date:03-Mar-2020
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

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