Sun Ultra 5 .. no password .. how do I change

[bhb3881dmb]

Hi,

I aquired an Ultra 5 from my last job, and I don't have the root password, and it only boots to a gui login.

I am new to UNIX, and I want to build fresh from the CD, how do I get it to boot from the CD?

I know I need to tell it to boot from the CD, but I don't have the foggiest...

All help greatly appreciated.

Thanx

 

[bonifale]

It's been a while since I worked on a Sun; Hope this is correct.

Stick the CD in the drive. Execute a 'stop-A' and then execute 'boot cdrom' should work; I think. The rest is menu driven.

Alternatively you could boot to single user mode 'boot -s cdrom' and mount /etc which will allow you to edit the /etc/passwd file and comment out the root entry. Then execute a 'pwconv' to sort out the shadow password file and reboot. You should be able to log in as root without a password.

 

[bhb3881dmb]

Hi bonifale,
Thanks for the quick reply, I am not sure how/where to issue the 'stop-A' command...could you send me a pointer?

Thanx

 

[Clairvoyant1332]

On the left side of a Sun keyboard is a group of 10 buttons, one of which is labeled "Stop". Hold the Stop key while pressing the A key and the system will go to the ok prompt.

Dennis

 

[bhb3881dmb]

Thank you Clairvoyant1332, that worked great, now to search for editing the pw.

Thanks again

 

[bluedragon2]

There is a FAQ for the password receovery in this forum.



[Blue]Blue[/Blue] [Dragon]

If I wasn't Blue, I would just be a Dragon...

 

[bhb3881dmb]

OK, I got into the # level, did a vi on the shadow file, removed the pw, then ZZ....FILE READ ONLY....

How do I make this file so that I can save it?

Thanx

 

[KenCunningham]

It's a spurious message (if you're logged in as supervisor) - just do a wq! rather than the standard wq

HTH.

 

[daFranze]

another possible reason: did you mount the root Filesystem readonly?

Regards
-- Franz
Sorry I'm not a native spaeker, I'm from Munich, Germany - "Home of the Whopper", oh no, "Home of the Oktoberfest" ;-)
Solaris System Manager; I used to work for Sun Microsystems Support (EMEA) for 5 years