root user removed 2

[homeric]

I've removed the root user thru smit on an rs6000 running AIX 4.2.1 - now I can't get file permission to even start repairing the damage - anyone see something this stoopid before? - How do I get root user back please?

 

[MikeLacey]

Ok &lt;smile&gt; happens to us all (once...)<br><br>Never done this on an AIX machine but the principles should be ok.<br><br>1) Boot in single user mode and edit the /etc/passwd file from there. This may not work if the root user has actually been removed from /etc/passwd but is a valid approach if you've forgotten the root password or broken the root user in some way.<br><br>2) Boot from the AIX CD/Tape, mount your usual / filesystem (as something else) and edit /etc/passwd.<br><br>If you have s/w support - don't mess around get on the phone and use it. There is a fair amount of potential for messing things up here.<br><br>Regards,<br> <p>Mike Lacey<br><a href=mailto:Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com>Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com</a><br><a href=

http://www.cargill.com/>

Cargill's Corporate Web Site</a><br>

 

[BFOJ]

I see that this problem was a couple of years ago, but others who may have experienced a loss of the root account or not have the root password may find this solution invaluable. Caveat, you must be using NIS.

On my NIS Server, I created an NIS dummy (backdoor) account that was equivalent to root (0). Let's say I called the account &quot;aixdummy&quot;. I would login on the problem machine as aixdummy, or I could have used telnet from another machine. Once you're on that machine, you are equivalent to root. You can then create the missing root account or change the root password.

For those not running NIS, I'd say be prepared in advance. Have a backdoor account on each of your machines. Please don't nail me for violating any security concerns by my suggestion.