PW

Purpose

Use the PW operand of the DIRMAINT command to change your CP logon password.

After entering the DIRMAINT PW command, you are normally prompted to enter your password twice.

Operands

password

specifies the value to be used as a password or passphrase. When entering the PW command password or passphrase on the VM command line, note that a passphrase containing embedded blanks must be surrounded by single quotes (with single quote characters within the passphrase itself doubled). When entering the password or passphrase on the PW command menu panel, up to 65 characters may be used. Longer passphrases must be specified by entering the DIRMaint command on the VM command line or by issuing the DIRMaint command in a z/VM Rexx EXEC. The password or passphrases will not appear in DirMaint maintained log files.

Attention: Use of this parameter may show up in console trace logs if tracing is turned on.

VPW verifypw

specifies the same password again for typographical verification.

RANDOM

requests that a random password be generated by calling the PASSWORD_RANDOM_GENERATOR_USER_EXIT.

ALPHAbetic

requests that the random generator exit be provided with the keyword ALPHABETIC in the requested algorithm field.

ALPHANumeric

requests that the random generator exit be provided with the keyword ALPHANUMERIC in the requested algorithm field.

NUMeric

requests that the random generator exit be provided with the keyword NUMERIC in the requested algorithm field.

length

requests that the random generator exit be provided with the value length as an optional parameter in the range 1 to 8.

Usage Notes

1. You may use one or more of the prefix keywords (REQuest, TOsys, ASuser, BYuser, PRESET, FORuser, MENU, PROMPT) with this command. These prefix keywords may be specified in any order, but each keyword may only be specified once. (Note that PROMPT is a default for this command, and will be assumed unless you override it with MENU.) The AT prefix keyword is not applicable to the command. It is accepted without error, but otherwise ignored.
2. Optional parameters are allowed on this command, but none are required. Use the MENU prefix operand to display the menu for this command so you can select or fill in the optional parameters.
3. Your installation may have rules about password content, minimum length, or reuse of old passwords. These can be enforced by calling the PASSWORD_SYNTAX_CHECKING_USER_EXIT exit routine. For more information, see z/VM: Directory Maintenance Facility Tailoring and Administration Guide.
4. Passwords generated by a call to the PASSWORD_RANDOM_GENERATOR_USER_EXIT exit are still passed through the PASSWORD_SYNTAX_CHECKING_USER_EXIT exit for verification.
5. Your installation may maintain a list of passwords whose use are restricted. The transaction will be rejected with an error message if your new password is on the restricted list.
6. All passwords are checked by the installations PASSWORD_SYNTAX_CHECKING_EXIT, even though they have already passed the checking by the USER exit.
7. If the verification password does not match the first password value entered, the transaction is rejected.
8. Your installation may have a password change policy and have instituted password change monitoring and enforcement facilities. Password change enforcement can be automatic or manual, and you may receive messages pertaining to password change requirements. The contents of these messages depend upon which mode is in effect.
9. You can check how many days have elapsed since you last changed your password by inserting the command EXEC DIRMAINT PW? in your PROFILE EXEC. If you append the entry with the WARN parameter, you will only be notified when your password is near expiration.
10. Your installation is able to define the maximum number of days that may elapse between password changes. When you are within a few days of the limit, you may receive reminders that a change is due. Such notification may be by direct contact from the administrative staff, internal mail, or other means. Alternatively, the installation may elect to have the DIRMAINT virtual machine contact you directly.
11. The directory change may be brought online immediately by the CP update-in-place facility (DIAGNOSE code X'84') if it is enabled.
12. If your system specifically has RACF installed as the ESM, see the z/VM: Directory Maintenance Facility Tailoring and Administration Guide for configuring DirMaint's RACF connector support to provide automatic communication with RACF.