Re: [cobalt-users] Locked Out Of Cobalt Server

[Eurowolf@xxxxxxx]

WHY make troubles with all this...don't you knwo that all it takes is a 
PAPERCLIP

pres the reset sysadmin button on the front ..and the admin passwd is reset 
to     nothing :)




In a message dated 7/12/00 2:17:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
graeme.f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

<< Chad wrote:
 
 > I figured that out for myself. I need to know how to get it back
 though.
 
 You'll need to either:
 
 (a) find the culprit and torture the passwords out of them... or
 (b) boot the machine single-user and see what it tells you:
 
 1. Find another machine (laptop perhaps) with serial port free.
 2. Find a null-modem serial cable
 3. Connect the two together via their serial ports (use port 1 on the
 RaQ)
 4. Run a terminal emulator on the other machine (whatever takes your
 fancy)
 5. Reboot the RaQ. At the start of the boot sequence press 'space' when
 it says to and you will enter ROM mode - similar to the BIOS on a PC.
 6. type (not the enclosing quotes) 'boot' <return>
 7. type (not the enclosing quotes) 'set_params "single"' <return>
 8. type (not the enclosing quotes) 'bfd' <return>
 9. wait for the prompt. You are now in single user mode .
 10. cd /etc
 11. ls -l passwd*
 
 with any luck here you may have two (or more) files. Look for 'passwd-'
 and check the time on it. You should be able to copy this file over the
 existing password file and get back in. (Use 'cp /etc/passwd-
 /etc/passwd' followed by 'cp /etc/shadow- /etc/shadow' and respond 'y'
 to both prompts).
 
 Failing that, use the 'passwd' command as follows:
 passwd admin
 <enter admin password twice>
 passwd
 <enter root password twice>
 
 then hit CTRL-D and you will resume normal operation. If this doesn't
 work then... I'd be very surprised.
 
 Sounds like your 'programmer' either has tried to take control of your
 machine (very naughty) or has broken /etc/passwd by mistake (just plain
 stupid).
 
 Hope this helps.
 
 Best Wishes,
 
 Graeme Fowler
 Systems Administrator >>