This article provides information on how to clear the commit errors:

error: could not open /var/etc/pam.conf+: Operation not permitted
error: commit failed: foreign file propagation failed during preprocessing

1. Commit fails with the following error message:

   root# commit
   error: could not open /var/etc/pam.conf+: Operation not permitted
   error: commit failed: foreign file propagation failed during preprocessing

2. The following log messages may be reported on the EX4300 during the commit issue:

   Oct 20 12:53:00   pfex: sflow socket connect failed (socket closed)
   
   Oct 20 12:53:00   fpc0 sflow socket connect failed (socket closed)
   Oct 20 12:53:00   authd[925]: LICENSE_SOCKET_FAILURE: 'evConnect' failed for socket 22:

1. Permission is missing in the authentication file.
2. File corruption with pam.conf or pam.conf+ file.

To fix this issue, full permission needs to be given to the password authentication management file:

1. Start the shell as user root

   root> start shell
   root%

2. Issue the following command to check the permissions:

   root% ls -lo /var/etc/pam
   -rw-------  1 root  wheel  - 203 Feb 14  2017 /var/etc/pam.conf

3. Issue the following command to change the permissions:

   root% chflags 0 /var/etc/pam.conf+
   root% chmod 777 /var/etc/pam.conf

4. Check the commit result. The log messages will not be reported with the commit.

   {master:0}[edit]
   root@co# commit full
   configuration check succeeds
   commit complete

   Note: If the above command does not work, then format install the switch to fix this issue.

2020-04-23: Updated formatting to correct overlapping text.

• KB31765 - Tacacs+ will not work if we get the error: rename failed for /var/etc/pam.conf while committing changes [juniper.net]