How to Change Your NIS+ Password

1. Run the passwd command at a system prompt.

2. Type your old password at the Enter login password (or similar) prompt.

   Your keystrokes are not shown on your screen.

   • If you receive a Sorry: less than N days since the last change message, it means that your old password has not been in use long enough and you will not be allowed to change it at this time. You are returned to your system prompt. Consult your system administrator to find out the minimum number of days a password must be in use before it can be changed.

   • If you receive a You may not change this password message, it means that your network administrator has blocked any change.

3. Type your new password at the Enter new password prompt.

   Your keystrokes are not shown on your screen.

   At this point the system checks to make sure that your new password meets the requirements:

   • If it does meet the requirements, you are asked to enter it again.

   • If your new password does not meet the system requirements, a message is displayed informing you of the problem. You must then enter a new password that does meet the requirements.

   See Password Requirements for the requirements a password must meet.

4. Type your new password again at the Re-enter new password prompt.

   Your keystrokes are not shown on your screen.

   If your second entry of the new password is not identical to your first entry, you are prompted to repeat the process.

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   Note –

   When changing root's password, you must always run chkey -p immediately after changing the password. (See Changing NIS+ Root Keys From Root and Changing Root Keys From Another NIS+ Machine for information on using chkey -p to change root's keys.) Failure to run chkey -p after changing root's password will result in root being unable to properly log in.

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   If you receive a Your password has expired message it means that your password has reached its age limit and expired. In other words, the password has been in use for too long and you must choose a new password at this time. (See Choosing a Password, for criteria that a new password must meet.)

   In this case, choosing a new password is a three-step process:

   1. Type your old password at the Enter login password (or similar) prompt.

      Your keystrokes are not shown on your screen.

   2. Type your new password at the Enter new password prompt.

      Your keystrokes are not shown on your screen.

   3. Type your new password again at the Re-enter new password prompt.

      Your keystrokes are not shown on your screen.