Passwd file problem

[mmartini]

Hi

on a stand alone system running hpux 11 we have this problem: the application we use to manage users made a change to the root user entry in the passwd file the result is that now we don't have the possibility to use the root user. I know what change has been made to the passwd file...but i don't know how to solve the problem without turning off the power. Any idea? thank you! :-)

[Baiju Kumar.B_1]

Dear mmartini,
1)you can do one thing first try to change the password using passwd command for the root user,if not possible this you can copy the system default password file from /usr/newconfig/etc/password.If other password back file is there then you can copy that file before doing this

regards
Baiju kumar.B

[mmartini]

Hello Tank... i can't modify the passwd file since only super user can do it. So no way to solve this problem without force a shutdown and boot into singleuser mode...

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,

- shutdown (probably there are usernames entered in /etc/shutdown.allow)
- boot to single-user mode
- undo the changes in /etc/passwd

mfG Peter

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Unless you have installed a sudo backdoor (which is not good practice) then you are going to have to bring the machine up in single-user. This will leave you at the shell already logged in as root. Obviously, your password managing application was not tested very thoroughly and you are a victim of your own testing practices and procedures. Rule number 1 when testing such procedures is to always be logged in as root in at least two session. That way, you can get yourself out of trouble almost as fast as you got yourself in.

[Khashru]

If you have any backup software ( eg HPData protector) Then you can push the file from that software without login as root.