The document provides a detailed guide on how to reset a forgotten root password for a Linux system, requiring server shutdown and specific commands to mount the filesystem and change the password. It also highlights the importance of the SELinux context and includes practice instructions for users. Contact information for further questions is provided at the end.

1. Root Password
Reset

2. Breaking your root
password to access the
root user
2

3. “ I have forgotten my root password!
How can i do to access my root user
commands?
3

4. How to reset your root
password
⬡ The root password is the one you use when you run
the$ sucommand on your system
⬡ If you don’t know or you can’t remember that
password, you will not be ableto access
thesuperuser(root) commands
⬡ Thus you will just run regular user commands
4

5. “
5
Trust me, this situation
constantly occurs.
Let’s learn how we can recover
or set a new root password!

6. Exercise
You have forgotten your root password
and you want to run a root command.
Reset the root password.
NB:The new password must be
Password01
6

7. ⬡ Firstly, we need toshutdown
the server
Hope you remember how to do
that in VirtualBox!
⬡ Click on the button to close the
window (follow the steps 1 and
2)
How to reset the root password
?
7

8. ⬡ Now,boot upthe server, wait
patiently not to miss the
countdown.Be ready on the
keyboard
⬡ As soon as you see the following
screen, press the key “e” on the
keyboard
NB:If you miss the countdown, you
can turn off the server and start it
back
How to reset the root password
?
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9. ⬡ Use the down arrow to look for the line starting withlinux16
⬡ Then use theright arrow keyto move to the end of the line
⬡ Put a space and typerd.break
⬡ Hold theCtrlkey and pressx (Ctrl-x)
How to reset the root password
?
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10. ⬡ The page will refresh and present the following lines with the#sign at the
end
How to reset the root password
?
10

11. ⬡ Now we need to mount the root file system (sysroot). Run the following
commands successively. Don’t forget to pressEnterat the end of each!
∙ # mount -o remount,rw /sysroot
∙ # chroot /sysroot
∙ # passwd root
⬡ Enter the new password that isPassword01
⬡ Retype the same password for confirmation.
How to reset the root password
?
11

12. The command we typed previously completely removed theselinux context.
We need to reset it by creating a specific file. To do that, run:
⬡ # touch /.autorelabel
Now exit twice to logout
⬡ # exit
⬡ # exit
The system willreboot itself. This might take some few minutes (It might be
faster depending on your computer)
How to reset the root password
?
12

13. 13
What is SElinux
?
Security-Enhanced
Linux(SElinux) is a security
feature in linux systems that
monitors system accesses.

14. When that is done, login with the user student and open a terminal
Try the$ sucommand and type the new password
How to reset the root password
?
14

15. 15
Place your screenshot here
When that is done, login
with the user student and
open a terminal
Try the$ sucommand and
type the new password
How to reset the root password
?

16. “
😉
16
Practise this on one of your
servers and find out if you are
able to break into your system
See you guys in the next
lesson!

17. 17
Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
website:abdasmarttechsolutionsllc.com
Phone: +1 (612)249-3623
Email:abda-smarttech@solutions.com