strange remote login problem after change root passwd

[Dean at Edag]

Hello, where I work, we have any number of hpux machines that we have always been able to telnet into remotely. Then one day I began changing the root password while logged in remotely. Now, it's only possible to get in as root on the local console. We need it back the way it was. Does anyone know what might have happened?
Thanks, Dean

[Pete Randall]

Dean,

Check for the existence and contents of a file called /etc/securetty. Have you tried telnet'ing as a regular user and su'ing to root?


Pete

[Dean at Edag]

Yes, I forgot to mention, telnetting in as a regular user and su'ing into root doesn't work either. But I will check for that file. Thanks.

[Pete Randall · Accepted solution]

Hmm, the /etc/securetty file would limit the login to just he console but would not stop you from su'ing. Does the new password have any special characters, like # and @?


Pete

[Dean at Edag]

Yes, our new password has an '@' in it. Is that a problem? It works locally. I never heard of that. Thanks!!!

[Dean at Edag]

OK Man passwd, I got it, thanks!!!

@=kill.

[Dean at Edag]

yes, the '@' char kills all characters typed before it.

[Steven Schweda]

> @=kill.

"man stty". Many of the HP-UX default
settings cause trouble in many environments.