SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, 10 - How To Recover the Root Password

[jibinw]

Issue

Lost or forgot the root password on Linux server

Environment:

Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 10

Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9
Solution

Follow the steps given below:
 

• Boot server from the installation CD.
• Then select any installation method or Rescue System.
• At the first installation screen when selecting language, press ctrl-alt-f2 to open a virtual console.

NOTE: If you have selected Rescue System, select your keyboard language and then a Rescue Login prompt should appear. Login as root.

• Type fdisk -l to list the partitions. Locate the Linux root partition.
• Type mount /dev/sda4 /mnt (replace sda4 with the device name for the Linux root partition identified in the previous step).

• Run mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev to make the device files available (this is needed for access to the urandom device which may be used by the passwd command below).
• Enter chroot /mnt.

• Now enter passwd root and reset the root password.

Type exit to leave the chroot environment.
Unmount the filesystem with umount /mnt then reboot the system.