root password unknown

[K. M. Stoddard]

The facts: HP 9000 Model E-25
HP 700/96 console
HP DDP2 - Direct Distribution Panel
HP MDP - Modem
Distribution Panel

Problem: root password unknown

History: Several good suggestions have been offered to me with regards to resolving this problem. I have tried several times booting into single user mode at the IPL> prompt using, hpux -ix or hpux -is and the CPU 'spins' for a few seconds and I am again returned to the IPL> prompt. With my years of system administration background with VAX/DEC OpenVMS, it dawned on me that perhaps the system console needed to be connected directly to the server. But how? Today, in yet a sixth attempt to find a solution to this dilema, I found a discussion on the correct connection of the console to the server. Patrick said with the E25 it is necessary to connect it to port 0 (zero) of the MUX. I have mine connected to port 0 of the MDP and the terminal configured to REMOTE*. Other than rebooting from DAT (which I don't have, anyway) or LAN (this is the only HP machine) how can I get into single user mode and change the passwd file?

I will GLADLY buy a bootable DAT system but HP support tells me they can't help me since I don't have a license with them. Yet, they no longer support the 9000 E25, anyway. Anybody have any suggestions (other than the "circular" file) for this machine? Anyone have bootable medium (DAT) for this model?

Thank you

[Kelli Ward]

When you attempted the single user boot, did you attempt hpux -is /stand/vmunix (for 10.x/ 11.x), hpux -is /hp-ux (for 9x) try this and see if it wil get you to single user. Good luck,
Kel

[Sanjay_6 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

At the ipl prompt try,

IPL> hpux -is (;0)/stand/vmunix

or

IPL> hpux -is (;0)/hp-ux

Is it returning with an error. If so, can you post that error.

Hope this helps.

Regds

[K. M. Stoddard]

HOT DAMN!! Thank you, Kelli and Sanjay. Your answer steered me to the correct 'path' to use after the -is switch, Kelli. I could tell from the boot configuration I was using system version 9x. But it was Sanjay's example, (;0)/hp-ux, that did the deed. Honest to God, at one time I was really close to solving this based on the boot 'path' information; P0 /hpux (;0). But I tried this, ISL> hpux -is (;0/hpux), and, of course, it failed.

Kelli?! I tried your suggestions because in one of my attempts I used /hpux instead of /hp-ux and I thought sure you had the solution.

THANKS ever so much. Kudos to you both.

BTW, I was in error in my original question: there is no IPL> prompt after the IPL loader completes. It is ISL>. :-

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

Thanks for posting the results. Guess we were in error too. We also assumed it would be IPL prompt. We should have known better. But that is something bad with us admins. We take lot of things at face value and don't go back and check.

Anyways, thanks for the post and the points too.

Regards
Sanjay

[Kelli Ward]

I'm glad you got it.

Where I work everyone uses IPL and ISL interchangably, I've stopped trying to explain it to them. Subsequently, I figured she meant ISL for IPL. My little quirk. Congrats on the new hat Sanjay. How does it feel? Looks great!
Kel