assigning same password

[Indrajit_1]

Hi;

i m trying to change my password. when i try to assign same password(hp unix), it does not allow me to assign same password. I have chacked in password policy, i could not make any changes.i have check in /etc/default/security , it has set to password_history_depth=6.

Could u plz help to assigning the same password.

Cheers
indrajit

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Well, the box is doing just what it is supposed to. If you insist upon doing this, make a backup copy of your /etc/default/security file, edit out the password_history_depth entry and save your file. Change your password and then restore the original file.

[Indrajit_1]

Hi Clay;

Is there any other way i can resolve the issue? Because modifying the file /etc/default/security may effect existing user. i don't want to take any risk..

Cheers
indrajit

[Jeff_Traigle]

Hmmm... I wonder if the following would work... run "usermod -x userid" six times. This will reset the password to random values. Then see if you can set the password to the one you want with the passwd command. Not sure if these usermod changes will count towards the history depth or not (I'm guessing not), but worth a try. The actual history is kept in /tcb/files/auth/system/pwhist directory, but the files there are binary and I don't think any tools exist that can manipulate them.

[Dave La Mar]

indrajit -
Of coure you could have the SA changed/set permanent using the root login.
This is not recommended, anywhere I know, of reusing the same password.

Regards,

-dl

[HGN · Accepted solution]

Hi

It is not recommended to keep the same password however if you want to change it
check if there is a file (if you are using a trusted system)
/etc/default/security (in you case the history depth should be 6)
comment that line,now change the passwd to something else and after that change to back to whatever passwd you need the second time,this should fix the problem,dont forget to uncomment the line on the file after setting the passwd.

Rgds

HGN

[Indrajit_1]

Hi All;

The problem has solved..

Thanks to HGN. u done it..

Cheers
Indrajit