5.1.1 Changing Your Password

To change your personal password, type the passwd command:

$ passwd
Changing password for hankw on worker
Old password:
New password:
Retype new password:
$

1. When the system prompts you for Old Password:, type your current password.

   (If no password is currently assigned to your account, the system will skip the Old Password: prompt.) Note that the system does not echo (display) your password on the screen. This prevents other users from discovering your password.

2. When the system prompts you for New Password:, type the password you've decided on.

   Again, the password you type does not echo on the screen.

3. At the final prompt, Retype new password:, type your new password a second time.

   This is to verify that you typed exactly what you intended to type.

   If you don't enter your password precisely the way you did at the previous prompt, the system refuses to change your password and responds with Sorry. If this happens repeatedly, contact your system administrator to get a new password.

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   Note -

   Passwords containing fewer than six characters are not allowed. Also, a new password must differ from the old password by at least three characters.

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