How to Boot From Media to Resolve an Unknown root Password - Booting and Shutting Down Oracle® Solaris 11.3 Systems

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How to Boot From Media to Resolve an Unknown `root` Password

Use the following procedure if you need to boot the system to correct an unknown root password or similar problem. This procedure requires you to mount the boot environment after importing the root pool. If you need to recover a root pool or root pool snapshot, see Replacing Disks in a ZFS Root Pool in Managing ZFS File Systems in Oracle Solaris 11.3.

Boot from the Oracle Solaris media by using one of the following options:
- SPARC: Text installation – Boot from the installation media or from the network, then select the Shell option (option 3) from the text installation screen.
- SPARC: Automated installation – Use the following command to boot directly from an installation menu that allows you to exit to a shell:
```
ok boot net:dhcp
```
- x86: Live Media – Boot from the installation media, and use a GNOME terminal for the recovery procedure.
- x86: Text installation – From the GRUB menu, select the Text Installer and command line boot entry, then select the Shell option (option 3) from the text installation screen.
- x86: Automated installation – Boot from an AI server on the network. This method requires a PXE boot. Select the Text Installer and command line entry from the GRUB menu. Then, select the Shell option (option 3) from the text installation screen.
Import the root pool.
```
zpool import -f rpool
```
Create a mount point for the boot environment.
```
# mkdir /a
```

Mount the boot environment on the mount point /a.

# beadm mount solaris-instance|be-name /a

For example:

# beadm mount solaris-2 /a

If a password or shadow entry is preventing a console login, correct the problem.
1. Set the TERM type.
```
# TERM=vt100
# export TERM
```
2. Edit the shadow file.
```
# cd /a/etc
# vi shadow
# cd /
```
Update the boot archive.
```
# bootadm update-archive -R /a
```
Unmount the boot environment.
```
# beadm umount be-name
```
Halt the system.
```
# halt
```
Reboot the system to a single-user state, and when prompted for the root password, press Return.

Reset the root password.

root@system:~# passwd -r files root
New Password: xxxxxx
Re-enter new Password: xxxxxx
passwd: password successfully changed for root

Press Control-D to reboot the system.

See Also

If there is a problem with the GRUB configuration that requires you to boot the system from media, follow the same steps for x86 platforms that are in this procedure> However, you