root Password

[Rajesh.K]

Hi,

I forget the root password in HP-UX Server. And how do i retrive it...Please it's urgent.

Regards,
K.Rajesh

[Geoff Wild · Accepted solution]

Boot into single user mode:

Stop the boot process when it says "Press any key to stop in 10 seconds". It will be on "Main Menu >" prompt.

Type "bo pri" hit Enter.
< Interact with IPL ? >
Say Y ( for yes)
You will be at "ISL>" prompt.
Type "hpux -is" hit Enter.
System will be booted in single user mode and it will be logged in as "root".

Change the Password and reboot.

Rgds...Geoff

[KapilRaj]

Boot into single user mod and reset the password. Would request you to search the forums before u post there are many many many posts avail for the same issue

Kaps

[Dave Hutton]

Can you rlogin/rsh/ssh to that server?
Otherwise single user mode is the only other way I know of being able to get in without the root password.

Dave

[Patrick Wallek]

You can't just "retrieve" it. It is NOT stored anywhere on the system in a form that you will be able to decipher. The only entry for the root password is in /etc/passwd or /tcb/files/auth/r/root and both are encrypted.

Your only hope is either booting the box, going to single-user mode and changing it or using something like sudo (if it is already set up) to login as root without knowing the password.

[Dave Hutton]

I guess there was one other way I've changed it but its a bit strange. If you have a program like Autosys or a remote job scheduler. I created a dummy job that the command to execute was a dterm on the box I needed, running as root. Exporting the X window back to my PC.

It worked for me 3-4 years ago when I was in a pinch.

Dave

[SS_6]

Single user is the right way but if you have sudo install than you can also change it by sudo or if this system is trusted to another, try rlogin to this system from another as root user.

[SANTOSH S. MHASKAR]

Type hpux -is at IPL prompt and go to single user, change the passwd and run ur normal runlevel

hpux -is

# passwd

# init 3/5 whatever is ur default runlevel

or simpley reboot the system.

-Santosh

[Rajesh.K]

Thanks Guys.

I will try and let you know. Because i can't reboot the Server wright now. I will try after sometime.

Thanks
K.Rajesh

[Sanjiv Sharma_1]

Hi Rajesh,

Please check this link:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=716493758+1081918027131+28353475&threadId=526192

hth.

[generic_1]

If you have tools such as Tivoli or Power Broker setup on your systems this would be another way saving you a system reboot to gain access and reset root's password. Also, it doesn't hurt to see if any of your other admin buddies happen to have an open session to the box. Just some alterative approaches. Good luck.

[generic_1]

Some other alternatives. Does anyone else have sudo to root, or you could have Autosys if you use null out the root password by deleting the encrpted password entry, and enabling null passwords. Just make sure you dont leave this in place ;).