Topic: HELP!! admin/root passwords have been reset

[NickT]

I've been setting up a new box with e-smith 5.5 on it, and have just run into the weirdest problem.....

I can no longer log into the box using server-manager or ssh.  I keep getting messages that the passwords are incorrect... this applies to root AND admin users.

I installed 5.5, then installed the user-manager extension.  Server-manager wasn't loading properly, so from past experience, I ran the /sbin/signal-event post-install and then the signal-event reboot.   That's when it all went pear-shaped!   After the reboot, I got a message on the console saying that the config had changed, and please complete the config steps again.. so I did as I was told.. the machine finished restarting, and from then on, I haven't been able to get back into it.

Can anybody help?  I'd rather not have to copy all the 2500+ mp3's to the jukebox again if I can help it!! :^)

Thanks

Nick

[Byte]

yes what you can do is reboot the server and run in single user mode (to do this
when you get the SME Slash screen press Ctrl X you will notice it goes into text mode then at lilo type single wait then boots install a shell once in there type passwd at command line and type in the password again

Rrgds

Byte

[NickT]

Thanks for the reply..

I just went and booted the server, when it got to the screen where I can choose E-Smith (or Mitel, can't remember which) I pressed CTRL + X.

I got the "boot" prompt, however when I entered 'single', it said it was an invalid boot option, press TAB for options.  The only boot option was esmith.

Am I doing something wrong, or do I not have the option of single user mode?  Or should I be booting form the CD?

Thanks

Nick

[Terry Brummell]

I believe the command you want to enter at the boot prompt is "esmith single", not "esmith".  Do a forum search on esmith single, you'll see others asking the same question as you.

Terry

NickT wrote:
>
> Thanks for the reply..
>
> I just went and booted the server, when it got to the screen
> where I can choose E-Smith (or Mitel, can't remember which) I
> pressed CTRL + X.
>
> I got the "boot" prompt, however when I entered 'single', it
> said it was an invalid boot option, press TAB for options.
> The only boot option was esmith.
>
> Am I doing something wrong, or do I not have the option of
> single user mode?  Or should I be booting form the CD?
>
> Thanks
>
> Nick

[NickT]

thanks for the help.

I actually got there in the end, although a bit long winded... I used a Mandrake Boot disk to get into Rescue mode, then edited the shadow file, copying the code for my password to that of the admin user... that let me log in, and then a changed the password again.

Not sure how it all happened, I've been using e-smith for a couple of years without a hitch.... I have a feeling that after I installed the user-manager panels, I should have done the signal-event post-upgrade INSTEAD of the post-install.  Who knows... it's working now.

Thanks again

nick

[Erwin Craps]

I Read those to.
I believe that files in the ETC folder are corrupt and I presume the file with the password in it.
The CTRL+X option and esmith single boot, also asks me for the password.

I read the article about the boot diskette, but I gonna try to install e smith 5.5 on a second disk in the same system so i can mount the disk and to a fsck
Maybe I could do an upgrade from what I understand, but I'm afraid I do not have enough Linux experiance to risk this.

It would be the first time I will to this, and dooing this on a operational client system would be a bad idea....