topic Re: Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification in Operating System - HP-UX

Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification

Richard S. Werhun — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:25:09 GMT

The issue that I have is an HP-UX 11.11 system that the root password is lost. However, upon rebooting the server in single-user mode; we are challenged for user:password. Obviously, the previous admin set it so you have to "login" when booting to single-user mode. How do you reset the root password in this situation?

Re: Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification

Rodney Hills — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:27:41 GMT

Find a install CD/tape, boot into single user mode from it.

That doesn't sound right that booting into single user mode would be challenging you with a login. If it does, try "root" and press enter for the password.

-- Rod Hills

Re: Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification

Pete Randall — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:29:45 GMT

Richard,

Do a search of the forums (from the masthead on the left of the page) and try this search string:
+"lost root password" +trusted

It's a common question.

Good luck,
Pete

Re: Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification

PIYUSH D. PATEL — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:47:21 GMT

Hi,

Particularly if you have C2 security activated on your system and booting to single user mode requires the root password.

If the root account is disabled on a trusted system and single user mode requires the root password, try the following (this works for HP-UX 10.20, haven't tried it on an 11.0 server).

NOTE: Before powering off the server, manually shutdown all applications and databases, (hopefully these do not run as root!!!) as this will prevent possible data corruption, etc.

1. Power off the server

2. Insert the Recovery CD

3. Power server on, interrupt the boot process, select the CD device to boot from and interact with the IPL.

4. Type 800support (for servers) or 700support (for workstations)

5. Select [ Run a Recovery Shell ]

6. Exit to the shell prompt and mount the root ( / ) file system by typing the following, chroot_lvmdisk and follow the prompts (need to know the hardware path and device filename of the root disk).

7. Once the root file system is mounted (should be mounted on /ROOT), edit the password database for the root account.
NOTE: May need to load the vi, ex and libcurses.1 files before attempting to edit the following file.
cd /tcb/files/auth/r
cp root root.old
vi root
Remove the encrypted password string from the line that begins with :u_pwd= and save the file. The line should look like this after editing :u_pwd=:

8. Exit to the Recovery Menu and then reboot the server to single user mode. The system should request a login, type root and then just press ENTER for the password field (as it is blank). Reset the password as necessary.

Piyush

Re: Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification

Richard S. Werhun — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:57:00 GMT

To have for the record:

I continued searching through the many, many responses for lost root passwords; and I came across a posting by:

phxgis on February 03, 2001 01:37 AM GMT

Luckily, phxgis' response was directly related to the problem I was having.

Since my root password had an @ sign in it, login at the "console" requres me to escape that character. For example,

myrootpassword@ must be typed in at the console as: myrootpassword\@

This also applies if you are using a # in your password also.

Re: Lost Root Password w/Single User Authentification

Pete Randall — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 18:01:04 GMT

Richard,

Congratulate yourself for being so diligent in your searching.

Good job!

Pete