unlock root in Linux

[S.S.]

Hi Experts,

How to unlock the root account in Linux?

Thank you!

[Jean-Yves Picard]

Hello,

which Linux ? (redhat, suse, debian)

what do you mean by unlock ?

If you have root passwd, you can usually do a

su - root

If you don't have root passwd, only option is to boot from a CD and enter rescue mode.

Jean-Yves Picard

[Matti_Kurkela]

This is a Frequently Asked Question.

When needing answers to frequently asked questions, Google is your friend.

The first hit in a Google search with "redhat root password" points to a RedHat manual, which includes a step-by-step procedure:

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=redhat+root+password&l=1

MK

[S.S.]

Thanks for your suggestions.

i want to know how to enable or activate the root account in RedHat Linux if the root password is disabled/locked.

In HP-UX we usually go to MP prompt which can able to logon even though the root password is locked and go to sam; can re-activate the root password.

Thanks.

[avizen9]

Hello SS
better way is to reboot system in single user mode and update passwod file...

[Kapil Jha]

It actually depends upon the setup SS, I have seen customer where ur root passwd is locked even if u try it 3 times on console on HPUX.

What kind of password setup you have?

BR,
Kapil+

[Alan_152]

For RedHat, this is the procedure for changing an unknown root password: http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/RHEL-4-Manual/step-guide/s1-q-and-a-root-passwd.html

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

You can boot the system with the power switch and then intervene on the boot prompt and go into single user mode. This must be done at console.

Press a key, down arrow to a kernel, edit the kernel boot line and add single to the end.

Enter, hit b to boot.

passwd

Then reboot to normal mode.

Or you can boot off media and null out the root password in /etc/shadow.

SEP