topic Re: root password in Operating System - HP-UX

root password

Venky_1 — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 09:51:46 GMT

Hello,

I am not able to change my root password on HP-UX 11.00. And it gives me the following error message
==========================================
Unexpected failure. Password file unchanged.
==========================================

Any suggestions .....

Thanks
Venky

Re: root password

Steve Steel — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 09:55:09 GMT

Hi

try pwck to check for faults.

check access for /etc/passwd

Should be readable for all

-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 7740 Mar 7 12:53 /etc/passwd

Steve Steel

Re: root password

Clemens van Everdingen — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 09:58:15 GMT

Hi,

If you are using NIS then it looks like a nis problem.
I have no direct specific ideas, but maybe later.

C.

Re: root password

Mateja Bezjak — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:13:13 GMT

Hi,

Check if there is a blank line in /etc/passwd file. If it is remove it.

Regards,
Mateja

Re: root password

Venky_1 — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:16:25 GMT

Hello,

I have rechecked all the points told by you all but still the problem persists.

Any more suggestions .....

Thanks
Venky

Re: root password

Roger Baptiste — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:19:09 GMT

hi,

First, make sure your password file is not corrupted. i.e, it has no missing entries, broken lines etc. If you have older version of the password file, you can do a diff on it.
The point is make sure the password file is ok.
(pwck is a quick check, but not comprehensive)

Are you using trusted system?
- make sure your trusted database under /tcb is ok. the password information for tcb root accounts are under /tcb/files/auth/r/root . Check whether that file exists and is ok.

if you Are you using NIS/NIS+ system, the problem could be elsewhere.

Also, make sure whether you are using the right passwd command! (/usr/bin/passwd) ;-)

Ensure that you can change passwd of non-root accounts.

HTH
raj

Re: root password

Steve Steel — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:25:39 GMT

Hi

is this trusted

If so
Sounds like an entry in passwd not in protected passwd

Try Running ' /usr/sbin/authck -pv '

Correct any problems

Also
check patches

Steve Steel

Re: root password

Venky_1 — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:27:21 GMT

Hi,

I am not able to change passwd for any account.
It gives me the same message.

Any help..

Thanks
Venky

Re: root password

John Carr_2 — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:36:26 GMT

Hi

I suspect the password file is corrupted. I would try this to check first.

cp /etc/passwd /etc/passwd.saved

rm /etc/passwd

echo "root::0:3::/:/sbin/sh" > /etc/passwd

now do

passwd root

If this works you need to find the corruption in the passwd.saved file or rebuild the file manually. If it doesnt work then copy the passwd.saved back to passwd as the file is not the problem.

cheers
john.

Re: root password

K.Vijayaragavan. — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 11:05:04 GMT

Hi,
1)boot in single user mode
2)Interrupt boot process and at isl prompt type hpux -is"
3)run sam
4)assign new passwords to the users.

-Vijay

Re: root password

Venky_1 — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 11:11:39 GMT

Hello,

Thanks everybody for their suggestions.
Problem got resolved, I simply recreated the passwd file freshly with important user accounts and then tested again. There was no problem this time.

Seems to be passwd file corruption which "pwck" was not able to detect.

Thanks
Venky

Re: root password

Steve Steel — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 11:12:50 GMT

Hi

try this

passwd -F /usr/newconfig/etc/passwd root

If it works then the password file is corrupt.

Check
1)For a trusted system
2)Nis

Do any of the checking programs recommended
give a problem.

Which OS do you have.
Have you changed any software or patches lately.

Steve Steel

Re: root password

U.SivaKumar_2 — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 11:19:01 GMT

hi ,
check the /usr/bin/passwd program file for suid permission bits.

regards,
U.SivaKumar.

Re: root password

F Verschuren — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 14:54:10 GMT

please check this file:
ll /tcb/files/auth/r/root
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root15:49 /tcb/files/auth/r/roo

If you are looking ad the file it must look like this:
cat /tcb/files/auth/r/root
root:u_name=root:u_id#0: :u_pwd=8EnCriptedA: :u_bootauth:u_auditid#0: :u_auditflag#1: :u_succhg#1007648292:u_unsucchg#1001928601:u_pw_expire_warning#0:u_pswduser=root: :u_suclog#1017240605:u_suctty=pts/ta:u_unsuclog#1011951616:u_unsuctty=pts/ta: :u_lock@:chkent:

edit the file and change:
:u_pwd=8EnCriptedA:into:
:u_pwd=:
than change the passwd

htp

Freek