changing root password

sunlinux · 03-21-2006, 06:05 AM

I am in the mess. forget linux redhat 3.0 entr. server's root password. how can i recover it ?

spooon · 03-21-2006, 06:20 AM

You boot into single-user mode and use the "passwd" command to change (not recover) the root password. For more info:
* http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/e...ot-passwd.html
* http://linuxgazette.net/107/tomar.html

Simon Bridge · 03-21-2006, 06:24 AM

You can't. But there is good news... you can change it.

Code:

$ sudo passwd root

Otherwise, if you havn't enabled sudo, you will have to boot from a rescue CD. (CD1 or the DVD, "linux rescue" at the "boot:" prompt). This will boot you into single user mode.

From there you need to edit the /sys/image/etc/shadow file... look for the line starting "root:" It will look like this

Code:

root:$1$4m0pQ7wB$lWLD5xKy2hwb0IBJgXFSt1:13228:0:99999:7:::

... remove everything between the first two colons, so it looks like this:

Code:

root::13228:0:99999:7:::

... this will set a blank password.

Logout - login as root, hit enter for the password blank password), obtain a new root password (# passwd root)