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FireWall-1 FAQ: ndb_open: database 'magic number' corrupted(c:\winnt\fw1\4.1\database wauth.NDB)

Please note: This content was from when I was operating my FireWall-1 FAQ site, which I stopped operating in August 2005. For some reason people still have links to this stuff on the Internet that people are still clicking on.


I am making this information available again AS IS. Given how old this information is, it is likely wildly inaccurate. I have no plans to update this information.


If you're still running versions of Check Point VPN-1/FireWall-1 where this information is still relevant to you, do yourself a favor and upgrade to a more recent release. If you happen to be running a current release and the information is useful, it's by happenstance :)


Q:

How do I correct a corrupted ‘magic number’ error?

I have recently noted the following error message when compiling and uploading the firewall rules:

ndb_open: database ‘magic number’ corrupted(c:\winnt\fw1\4.1\database\fwauth.NDB

Subsequent messages indicate that the rules compile and load successfully. The firewall is an Intel box with Windows NT 4.0 and FW 4.1.

A:

fwstop the management console, then delete from $FWDIR/database and $FWDIR/conf the fwauth. files (though be careful of deleting $FWDIR/conf/fwauth.NDB* since that’s the user database file). Do a fwstart, open the policy editor, accept the new key it wishes to generate and voila, no more “magic number” errors. However, if you use IKE Pre-Shared secrets, you will need to re-create them as they will be lost.

#Cybersecurity Evangelist, Podcaster, #noagenda Producer, Frequenter of shiny metal tubes, Expressor of personal opinions, and of course, a coffee achiever.