How to reset the root password

[Jessica_37]

Forget the root password on one of HP-UX server, Is there any quick solution (and details please) to reset or empty the root password (I do remember on Sun Solaris you can boot the system from CD-ROM and start the system from CD then mount the / to clear the second colume in /etc/shadow in order to remove the root password, do not know whether HP-UX can do the same thing via booting from CD)

[Devesh Pant_1 · Accepted solution]

Jessica,

you can boot the server to a single user mode and change it

To boot to a single user mode,

1. Hit any key within 10 seconds to go to the BCH prompt.
2. At the BCH prompt hit boot and interact with ISL
3. At the ISL prompt say hpux -is
and you will be booted in a single user mode
change you password and issue
init 3

and you are all set
best of luck

DP

[Raj D.]

Hi Jessica ,

To recover the root password do the following:

1. Reboot the system .
2. While booting up , at PDC , interupt the boot sequence , at 10sec message , by pressing any key.

3. Interact with ISL -> Y.
4. at ISL> give hpux -is

5. You will get # prompt.
6. Change the password # passwd root
7. # shutdown -r -y or # init 3

Hope this will help you ,

Cheers,
Raj.

[Cem Tugrul]

Jessica,
As an addition to other replies here are
also some useful threads asked before;

Good Luck,

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=937193

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=733238

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=709963

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=662338

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=757440

Good Luck,

[Mahesh Kumar Malik]

Hi Jessica

Boot the server in single user mode and then set new root password

Regards
Mahesh

[Blofeld]

Jessica
Unfortunately you'll have to boot the system into single user mode. Then from there change the passwd.

reboot ----interrupt boot seq ---- bo pri ---y interact with isl ----- hpux -is ----- passwd root ---- init 3
Let us know how it worked out