How to Reset Root Password in HP-UX Operating System

In this article, We will learn how to recover or reset the root password in HP-UX operating system.

If you lost the root password on system running on HP-UX operating system, Please follow the below procedure step by step.

1. In the first step, please power on the HP-UX machine and boot the server into single user mode.

To boot the server in single user mode their is several way. Please find the simple way as described below.

Selecting a system to boot. To stop selection process, press and hold the ESCAPE key

Auto boot from primary boot path enabled. To override, press any key within 10 seconds.

Type boot pri isl at the prompt:
boot pri

At the ISL> prompt:, type
hpux -is /stand/vmunix

OR

hpux -is

Here, In above example, the -i option is used to make the system come up in run-level s, for single user mode of operation.

2. In second step while system booting into single user mode you need to interrrupt while booting the server. Once you interrupt the server you will get the HP-UX prompt so you can boot it in single user mode.

hpx:/>boot -is

3. In this step , you need to mount the "/usr" file system on HP-UX operating system server.

hpx:/>mount /usr

4. If it is trusted system on HP-UX operating platform then you need to run the below command on trusted system.

hpx:/>/usr/lbin/tsconvert -r


5. Now, in this step we will reset the root password. For this process we have two method to reset the root password on HP-UX operating system.

Method 1:

hpx:/>passwd root
using above command we can normally reset the root password and set the new password.

Method 2:

hpx:/> vi /etc/passwd

null the password field for root user, so root password will be reset.

6. If root user is locked then unlock using below command.

hpx:/>/usr/lbin/modprpw -k root

7. Once server is up in runlevel 3 again u need to convert as trusted systems.

hpx:/>/usr/lbin/tsconvert

So using above method you can reset the root password on HP-UX operating system server. Please comment on the post if you are facing any issue related to this post.

How To Reset Root Password In AIX Operating System

When you will forget the root password on AIX operatings system then it is difficult to us to recover the root password again. So in this post I will explain step by step to you how to reset the root password in AIX.

Their are several ways using which we can reset the root password on AIX, here I will provide you step by step method to reset root password.

1. In the first step , You need to insert the operating system same version media disk on cd/dvd rom and power on the AIX machine.

2. When the screen of icons appears, or you hear a double beep sound from hardware of AIX, please press the F1 key repeatedly until the System Management Services menu appears.

3. Select Multiboot option from the SMS (System Management Services) menu

4. Select Install From option from multiboot screen.

5. Select the device (CD rom) that keep the AIX operating system image and then select Install.

6. Select the AIX version icon from the screen menu.

7. Please describe your current system as the system console by pressing the F1 key and then press Enter.

8. In this step you need to select the number of your preferred language and press Enter. In my case I use global language "English".

9. Once you select the language in this step you need to select Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery by typing 3 and press Enter.

10. In the second last step you can ingnore the messages like that "select Access a Root Volume Group". 

A message displays explaining that you will not be able to return to the Installation menus without rebooting if you change the root volume group at this point.

11. Please Type 0 and press Enter.

Type the number of the appropriate volume group from the list and press Enter.

Select Access this Volume Group and start a shell by typing 1 and press Enter.

At the # (number sign) prompt, type the passwd command at the command line prompt to reset the root password.

# passwd

Changing password for "root"

root's New password: 

Enter the new password again:

12. In the final step , you need to write everything from the buffer to the hard disk and reboot the system.

sync;sync;sync;reboot

When the login screen appears, the password you set in above step 11 should now permit access to root privileges.

Hope, you like this post , using this post we can easily reset the root password in AIX operating system. If you are facing any issue please comment on this post.