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Need to recover root password on RS 6000

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funkyd

IS-IT--Management
Apr 27, 2000
32
US
I have "inherited" and old 6000/370 box and am trying to ascertain its usability.  Unfortunately, the root password is lost and I can't boot single user as I am prompted for a password.  I have searched my AIX "Technical Library" CD for a solution, but haven't found anything applicable.  Does anyone know a workaround?  Thanks.
 
Hi,<br><br>Can you boot from CD? You could then mount the root filesystem and edit the /etc/passwd file to remove the root passwd<br><br>Mike<br> <p>Mike<br><a href=mailto:Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com>Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com</a><br><a href= Cargill's Corporate Web Site</a><br>Please don't send me email questions without posting them as well. Post the question and send me a note saying "Have a look at so-and-so would you?" - that's fine.
 
No, I can't boot from CD.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a CD caddy in the drive at the moment, and I have not been able to eject it.&nbsp;&nbsp;I was hoping that once I logged in that I could get the CD ejected.&nbsp;&nbsp;Is there any other way to reset the root password?
 
Hmmm<br><br>I don't do this often - so please forgive me if I'm barking up the wrong tree here.<br><br>There's a key on the front of your cpu with three positions<br><br>off, maintenance and run (or similar sounding names)<br><br>turn the key to maintenance, reboot the server - right from power off<br><br>At that point I get a root shell - with no password prompt.<br><br>Watch the boot sequence carefully, I think it asks you about this at some point - and goes off on its own if you don't reply.<br><br> <p>Mike<br><a href=mailto:Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com>Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com</a><br><a href= Cargill's Corporate Web Site</a><br>Please don't send me email questions without posting them as well. Post the question and send me a note saying "Have a look at so-and-so would you?" - that's fine.
 
Been down that road.&nbsp;&nbsp;What happens is that I am prompted for the password before it will let me go into single-user mode.&nbsp;&nbsp;I also tried this on a PowerServer 370, and all it did was go into diagnostic mode.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is very puzzling.
 
Are you able to boot from a tape?&nbsp;&nbsp;If so, you could boot from a mksysb from another machine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Try to use mksysb w/ the same architecture (i.e. Microchannel vs. PCI) <p>Doug Tyre<br><a href=mailto:dtyre@miami.edu>dtyre@miami.edu</a><br><a href= Information Systems Institute (at UM)</a><br>
 
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