Changing passwords

Changing passwords

The passwords between systems are not synchronised. This mean that if you change the password on one, the others do not change automatically. You need to go in and change it manually.

Linux passwords from within Linux

The most reliable way to change your linux password is via a command prompt. You will need to start a terminal window. At the prompt, type passwd. You will be prompted to enter your current password, followed by the new password and the new password again. None of the passwords will be echoed on the screen. See the box below for what a typical session should look like.

Linux passwords from within Windows

It is possible to change your linux password from Windows. To do this, you will need to ssh (secure shell) into a machine running linux. We recommend using PuTTY. There should be a shortcut on your desktop for PuTTY. Double click on that and a connection window will appear.

For a hostname put in uggp.csse.uwa.edu.au, ensure the port is "22" and that the protocol is SSH. Then click on "Open"

The first time you connect you will be asked if you want to accept the ssh key. Just click "Yes", for more information about ssh and its keys, see the FAQ page about connections. You should now be looking at a command prompt, also known as a terminal window. Now type passwd. Enter your old password (The default password issued from CSSE from here), then your new password twice. If you make a mistake, press "Control-C" to abort the password attempt, then try again. To exit, type "Exit".

A sample session should look something like this:

login as: username                                Substitute your username here



username@uggp:~:514>                       	  This is a terminal prompt

username@uggp:~:514> passwd                       Type "passwd" at the prompt to change your password

Changing password for user username.

Enter login(LDAP) password:                       Put in your old CSSE password 

New UNIX password:                                Enter New password

Retype new UNIX password:                         Enter New password again to confirm

LDAP password information changed for username

passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.

username@uggp:~:514> exit                         Logout 

If you do not see the message "authentication tokens updated successfully" there was an error changing the password. Just type passwd and try again. Pay careful attention to your typing.

You may get some errors:

• BAD PASSWORD: it is based on a dictionary word

• BAD PASSWORD: it's WAY too short

or similiar.  That means your password doesn't meet the password requirements.  Ideally it should be at least eight characters long, not based on a dictionary word and a mixture of letters, numbers and characters.

Windows passwords

To change your windows password you will need to log into Windows.
Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete together to display the Windows Security box.
Click on "Change password" and follow the prompts.

Apple passwords

Currently the username/passwords on the iMacs are locked is one and the same with your Linux account.