How to restore a lost root password...
Matthew Seaman
m.seaman at infracaninophile.co.uk
Sat Oct 25 07:55:01 PDT 2008
DSA - JCR wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I have lost the neuron where I stored the root password of an installation ;D
>
> I have seen a "How to" about this but I have a problem, i set the console
> to insecure, so when I try to do the step of the "how to" i get a message
> to input the root password or Ctrl-D to enter in multiuser mode.
>
> Is there a way to restore/modify it, or not?
>
> Some ideas?
You can try booting from installation media into 'fixit' mode or live
filesystem. Once there, you can mount your HDD read-write; edit
/etc/master.password to remove the crypted password string from the
line for the root account; run 'cap_mkdb ./master.passwd'; reboot back to
your normal system and then log in as root (no password) and
/immediately/ set another root password.
This time, don't forget your root password. If you struggle to memorise
it, then *write it down* on its own, on a blank sheet of paper. Don't
add any really obvious text like "this is the root password for my
server" -- after all, we don't want to make it too easy for anyone trying
to break in do we? Seal that paper in an envelope and keep it in a safe
place. But not so safe that you forget where you put it...
Cheers,
Matthew
--
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard
Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
Kent, CT11 9PW
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