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Passwords are typically encrypted and stored in /etc/shadow.
If I were making images for installing, I would first DISABLE the root password. Then, in the new install, the first user will simply enter "passwd root" to make a new one. (When first logging in as root, the system will not ask for a password)
To disable the root password, edit the /etc/passwd file and remove the "x" in this line:
root:x:<snip>
so it looks like this:
root::<snip>
/etc/shadow is made automatically, and there is a copy of its default with name /etc/shadow- , shadow file is updated automatically when you create, modify a user so there will be difference in two seprate machines /etc/shadow files.
btw, it is possible to take it from one machine to another, but it will cause problem if /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow has difference.
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