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UGU: Unix Guru Universe - Unix Tip #4108- May 11, 2012 - Home : Help : Today's Tip
Unix Tip #4108- May 11, 2012

NULL ROOT PASSWD WITHOUT VI


As admins We never forget the root password,
RIGHT?

Although sometimes we do inherit machines in
which we don't know the root password.

Here is a way to null the root password from
the password file.

It comes a time in every admins life that we
will have to go into mini-root and change the
password file without the use of vi.

The following example shows how to achieve this
on the /etc/shadow file, but the same basic
commands can be achieved on the /etc/passwd file
for those platforms that don't support shadow
passwords.

Use "ed" - and the 13 dots method
---------------------------------
# cp /etc/shadow /etc/shadow.bak
# ed /etc/shadow
1p
s/:.............:/::/
1p
w
q


NOTE: All tips provided are USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Tips are submitted by various unix admins around the globe. UGU suggest you read and test each tip in a non-volitile environment before placing into production.


LAST 5 TIPS
4107 - THE EXECUTION OF FIND
4106 - PROTECT THE ROOT DIRECTORY AT ALL COST
4105 - KEEP THOSE DAEMONS RUNNING
4104 - BE CAREFUL WITH NIS+
4103 - TAKE NOTES AT 3AM


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