Root Access is Denied - Wrong Shell Mentioned in /etc/passwd

[Muthyala]

Hi
By mistake the default shell access of root has been changed from /usr/bin/ksh to /usr/sh. Due to this i am not able to login thru root, I get error stating that no shell found. It is secure system with no other user has access privilege of root. How to solve this issue? In case i boot the server in single user mode, can I login and access the /etc/passwd file since the shell for root is wrong.
TIA
Sri

[Yang Qin_1]

Hi, I think you meant "default shell of root has been changed from /ubin/sh to /usr/bin/ksh", right?

Can you try to ftp to that server, "get" passwd, modify it and then "put" it back.

Otherwise, can you find a backup tape which contain good /etc/passwd, so that you can restore passwd from that tape?

Don't reboot the server, you may have problem to start it unless you use Ignite backup to recovery your serv server

Yang

[Christian Tremblay]

"no other user has access privilege of root"

You mean that logging in as a regular user and su to root login doesn't work ?

[Muthyala]

Hi

I have copy of good passwd file but cannot copy it because the access is all r-r-r only and also I have enabled SFTP with root access denied; Due to this i cannot ftp the modified to /etc.

I can login thru other users but cannot su to root, it gives me error no shell and logs me out.

What will happen if i reboot in single user mode, will it come to # prompt OR the system will have problem to boot because of invalid shell mentioned in /etc/passwd file.


Thanks
Sri

[Coolmar]

Can you su to root like:

# su root

NOT

#su - root

I though when you don't have the (-) then you avoid the shell....

[Muthyala]

Hi

Both the ways #su root and #su - root i get error "

$ su root
Password:
Last successful login for root: Wed Nov 22 11:00:34 MST7MDT 2006 on console
Last unsuccessful login for root: Tue Nov 21 11:22:23 MST7MDT 2006 on pts/3
su: No shell
server:/home/user1 $ su - root
Password:
Last successful login for root: Wed Nov 22 11:12:36 MST7MDT 2006 on console
Last unsuccessful login for root: Tue Nov 21 11:22:23 MST7MDT 2006 on pts/3
su: No shell

[Christian Tremblay]

This is a longshot and I don't have a system to test if it works or not, but you may try to setup a link like this:

ln -s /usr/bin/ksh /usr/sh

and try to su or login..

[Muthyala]

Hi

I have tried doin ln -s but i dont privilage.

Thanks
Sri

[Muthyala]

Hi

Solved this issue by running SAM thru login has normal user and executing the following command
$/usr/dt/bin/dtaction Sam

this will start in sam by asking the root password , once u give the root password sam comes up.Then you can edit the user root and change the login shell.

If u dont have CDE then u need to export u r display variable to run SAM.

Thanks
Sri

[Muthyala]

Solved this issue by running SAM thru login has normal user and executing the following command
$/usr/dt/bin/dtaction Sam

this will start in sam by asking the root password , once u give the root password sam comes up.Then you can edit the user root and change the login shell.

If u dont have CDE then u need to export u r display variable to run SAM.

Thanks
Sri