Configuration restrictions and guidelines
When you configure FIPS, follow these restrictions and guidelines:
After the fips mode enable command is executed, the system prompts you to choose a reboot method. If you do not make a choice within 30 seconds, the system uses the manual reboot method.
Before you reboot the device to enter FIPS mode, the system automatically removes all key pairs configured in non-FIPS mode and all FIPS-incompliant digital certificates. FIPS-incompliant digital certificates are MD5-based certificates with the modulus length of key pairs less than 2048 bits. You cannot log in to the device through SSH after the device enters FIPS mode. To log in to the device in FIPS mode through SSH, first log in to the device through a console port, and then create a key pair for the SSH server.
The password for entering the device in FIPS mode must comply with the password control policies, such as password length, complexity, and aging policy. When the aging timer for a password expires, the system prompts you to change the password. If you adjust the system time after the device enters FIPS mode, the login password might expire before the next login, because the original system time is typically much earlier than the actual time.
If you choose the automatic reboot method, set the system time before executing the fips mode enable command.
If you choose the manual reboot method, set the system time before configuring the local username and password.
To use the manual reboot method, you must perform the following tasks:
Save the current configuration file.
Specify the current configuration file as the startup configuration file.
Delete the startup configuration file in binary format.
Reboot the device.
Otherwise, the commands that are not supported by FIPS mode, if they are in the configuration file, might be restored.
The system enters an intermediate state between when the fips mode enable command is executed and when the system is rebooted. If you choose the manual reboot method, do not execute any commands except for the following commands:
reboot.
save.
Other commands used for configuration preparation to enter FIPS mode.
Configuration rollback is supported in FIPS mode and also during a switch between FIPS mode and non-FIPS mode. After a configuration rollback between FIPS mode and non-FIPS mode, perform the following tasks:
Delete the local user and configure a new local user. Local user attributes include password, user role, and service type.
Save the current configuration file.
Specify the current configuration file as the startup configuration file.
Reboot the device. The new configuration takes effect after the reboot. During this process, do not exit the system or perform other operations.
If a device enters FIPS or non-FIPS mode through automatic reboot, configuration rollback fails. To support configuration rollback, you must execute the save command after the device enters FIPS or non-FIPS mode.
Do not use FIPS and non-FIPS devices to create an IRF fabric.
To enable FIPS mode for an IRF fabric, you must reboot the entire IRF fabric.
The default MDC supports FIPS commands. Other MDCs do not support FIPS commands.