Document Number: OSUP1051
Product: Observer 9.x and 10.0
Date: 10-12-2004
Title: Probe Redirection Error - Unable to connect remote probes to Observer console

Keywords: Connection, Encryption,  Key File, Probe Redirection Error, Authentication Negotiation Error, DES 3

SYMPTOM:
When attempting Probe redirection, the Observer console displays the following error message:

Probe redirection Error [IP Address of Probe] Authentication Negotiation Error

REASONS:
There is a security setting mismatch between the Observer console and the Probe. Either the security feature has been turned off for one side of the connection (but not the other), or their Encryption Keys do not match.

SOLUTIONS:

 1. Verify that both the Observer console and any Probes that you wish to redirect to that console are configured with the same security settings.
    In Observer, click Options->Observer General Options from the menu, then click the Security tab. On the Probe, just click the Security tab. 
    Verify that the security properties match.

2. Verify that the installation directories of both the Observer console and the Probe contain copies of the same Encryption Key File. If necessary,
    generate a new encryption key on the Observer console by running the EncryptUtil.exe file located in the root of the Observer program install
    directory. (This is usually either “c:\Observer Files” or “c:\Program Files\Observer”). Run the program and copy the generated Observer Encryption
    Key (.oek) file to the installation directories of all the Probes and Observer consoles that should be allowed to interact.

Note: Once you have assigned a key to a Probe, any Observer console to which that Probe will be redirected must have a copy of the generated  key file. In other words, after you have generated and copied an encryption key to an Observer install directory, all Probes and Consoles that want to connect to that Observer must have a copy of the same key file in their respective installation directories.