The following procedure describes how to recover access
to root privileges when the system's root password is unavailable
or unknown.
The following procedure requires some system downtime.
If possible, schedule your downtime when it least impacts your workload
to protect yourself from a possible loss of data or functionality.
The information in this how-to scenario was tested using specific versions of AIX®. The results you obtain might vary significantly depending on your version and level of AIX.
- Insert the product media for the same version and level
as the current installation into the appropriate drive.
- Power on the machine.
- When the screen of icons appears, or when you hear a double
beep, press the F1 key repeatedly until the System Management
Services menu appears.
- Select Multiboot.
- Select Install From.
- Select the device that holds the product media and then
select Install.
- Select the AIX version
icon.
- Define your current system as the system console by pressing
the F1 key and then press Enter.
- Select the number of your preferred language and press
Enter.
- Choose Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery by
typing 3 and press Enter.
- 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.
- 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.
For example:
# passwd
Changing password for "root"
root's New password:
Enter the new password again:
- To write everything from the buffer to the hard disk and
reboot the system, type the following:
When the login screen appears, the password you set in
step 15 should
now permit access to root privileges.