topic Re: root account disabled in Operating System - HP-UX

root account disabled

Michael Crihfield — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 13:32:12 GMT

I have a Visualize server that I am trying to telnet to and it gives me a root account disabled. Can anyone give me a hand with this?

Re: root account disabled

Chuck J — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 13:44:38 GMT

Boot into single user mode, here's how to do it:

* Power cycle the machine if you cannot reboot

When you see the system coming up again you can interrupt the system boot sequence (it will ask you to press any key in 10 sec to stop booting), and then after pressing the key (e.g. spacebar)> It may now bring up a boot menu. Depending on the model you will need to enter a command similar to:

BOOT_ADMIN> boot OR
BOOT_ADMIN> boot pri isl OR something else

If you are asked if you want to interact with the ISL, type yes. Then:

ISL> hpux -is

This will take you to single user mode.

Now type:

# mountall
# vi /etc/passwd
x out the second string where the password is

or you could:
# passwd root

Bingo.

Chuck J

Re: root account disabled

Christopher McCray_1 — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 13:44:54 GMT

Have you tried booting into single user mode??

From there you should be able to change root's passwd.

Hope this helps

Chris

Re: root account disabled

Chuck J — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 13:55:30 GMT

Oh, where i said "x out the password" in the /etc/passwd file, i meant delete the file, this will give root no password.

After you've changed the password you can do:

# init 3

to boot back into multi-user mode.

Re: root account disabled

Pete Randall — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 13:56:48 GMT

No, don't delete the passwd file!!! You'll be logged in as root - use the passwd command to change root's passwd, then return to multi-user state by init 3 or re-booting.

Pete

Re: root account disabled

Chuck J — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 13:58:36 GMT

OOOOOOOoops, i meant "delete the field" not file!!! just delete the second FIELD where the password is to give root no password.

Woops, that was a typo!!

Chuck J

Re: root account disabled

Pete Randall — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 14:01:34 GMT

And quite the typo it was, Chuck!!

;^)

Pete

Re: root account disabled

merydine — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 14:07:21 GMT

Hi,

You maid have two reasons to this kind of pbs :

-You are in trusted mode with pass aging set for all users (root too) . Boot in single and use SAM do configurate proply.

- The file securetty is active

Bye.

Merydine

Re: root account disabled

Michael Crihfield — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 14:08:28 GMT

Problem Solved. For some reason I forgot all about my friend single usder. DOH! Thank to all who replied.
Chriss

Re: root account disabled

Chuck J — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 14:11:03 GMT

If you didn't bring that up i would've missed it. My mind was thinking "field" but my hand typed "file", then when i read your message I thought "Hang on, WHAT THE" hehe.

:-)

Chuck J

Re: root account disabled

Martin Johnson — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 17:45:33 GMT

You may want to consider a pseudo root account (username, password, UID=0) for root access when the root account is disabled. With a pseudo root account, you can change the root password without have to reboot into single user mode.

HTH
Marty

Re: root account disabled

Martin Johnson — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 17:46:58 GMT

Chuck,

And you got 10 points for the typo!!!!! WOW!

:-)
Marty

Re: root account disabled

Michael Crihfield — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 18:02:10 GMT

What can I say, I'm generous. Actually I knew what he was talking about even if there was a typo. As soon as you guys said single user I knew what needed to be done. Hence points for everyone!!!
Chriss