How to Change the Unix Root Password After it Has Expired

UNIX operating systems such as Oracle Solaris, IBM AIX, and HP-UX all have a root user. The root user is equivalent to the Windows Administrator user and has access to the entire machine. If your password aging is configured, passwords expire after a certain period of time and users are prompted to select a new password when they log in. You can log in as root directly at the login prompt or use the "su" command to become the root user when logged in as another user. The "su" command can't be used to become the root user when its password is expired, but you can still log in as root directly from the login prompt.

• 1

  Exit your current user account by typing "exit" into the terminal and pressing "Enter."

• 2

  Type "root" at the login prompt and press "Enter."

• 3

  Type the expired root password at the password prompt and press "Enter."

• 4

  Type "passwd" into the terminal and press "Enter."

• 5

  Type the old password and press "Enter."

• 6

  Type a new password, press "Enter," confirm the password by typing it again and press "Enter."