Changing Your Password on UNIX Systems

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For U.Va. computing systems which do not have web forms to facilitate password changes, users will need to run the "passwd" command to change their password.

The "passwd" Command

The passwd command in effect on the UNIX systems at the University of Virginia enforces the selection of passwords which are not easily guessed.

  • To change your password while logged onto a UNIX machine, type: passwd
  • To see the possible command line options, type: man passwd
  • If no options are given, actions are as follows:
    • The name that the user logged in as is determined.
    • If an entry for the user exists in the NIS (Network Information Service) passwd database, the password field in that entry is changed.
    • On Suns only, if an entry for the user exists in the local /etc/passwd file, the password field in that entry is changed. On NeXTs, passwords are kept in the Netinfo database, which is not changed by "passwd".
    • On Suns only, in the unusual case where both entries are present, both password fields are set to the same new password.

On-line help is displayed if "?" is typed in response to the prompt for a new password. The help file (the file you are now reading) is displayed with "more", unless the user selects another command (and possible options) via the PAGER environment variable.

© 2008 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

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