SUMMARY

A simple guide for changing your OS root password if you already have it and what to do if you do not have your root password

NOTES

Do not use the below public password.

NOTE: There is no default password for Unitrends systems since 10.3.7 release.  On deployment, a password must initially be set from the console screen, or, during 1st time UI setup for the unit to be accessed by command line.   For systems imaged with media predating 10.3.7, a default password of "unitrends1" is used and must be changed as it was prior publicly documented and is known to be exploited.  Unitrends Support staff will refuse to provide support to systems known to be using publicly documented setup passwords.

Starting with release 10.3.7, for data security we require changing from the public default on installation or setup of re-imaged appliances and strongly advise to change on any existing systems still set to this default.

ISSUE

These instructions will help you change the root password used for connecting via SSH or to reboot your Unitrends system.

RESOLUTION

When you do not know the OS password

When you know the OS password

OPTION 1:

1. Click CONFIGURE. From the Appliances tab, select the Unitrends System.

2. Click the  button to open the Edit Appliance dialogue box.
3. Click on the Advanced tab.
4. At the bottom, click the OS Password button.
5. Follow the instructions to enter the current and new password, then click Save.

OPTION 2:

From the Command Line Interface using an SSH connection

1. Using an SSH terminal software (e.g. PuTTY), connect to the Unitrends system (IP address or hostname if DNS resolves it) and authenticate using the root user credentials.
2. At the command prompt, enter the command passwd and enter your new password when prompted.

When you do not know the OS password

OPTION 1:
 

Use the Unitrends Console Interface to edit the root password using the configuration wizard.

• Recovery-Series appliance: attach keyboard and VGA monitor
• Virtual Appliance (UEB or UB): use the Hypervisor console option of the Guest VM (VMware/Hyper-v/Xenserver)

You should see a list of four options on this screen. Select Console Access Password Setup (UNIX Password for older systems).

(Screen shot showing menu order as of v.10.3.9)

If you do not see a similar menu as displayed above, reboot your Unitrends. Once the system reboots, it will load this menu. If you still do not see this menu, proceed to the following steps in Option 2.

      Note:  In Hyper-V, it may not be possible to access this screen when using RDP to the hyper-V host.  Please ensure you are locally logged onto the physical server when accessing the UEB console through Hyper-V manager, or are running the Hyper-V manager directly from your local Windows 8 workstation.

      CentOS 7 deployments: Starting with CentOS 7 we have seen occurrences where the password reset via passwd command or Console option 1 will loop multiple times (some examples had it prompt 6 times) to re-enter the confirmation password. This is considered normal and expected. Continue entering until prompted that the password has been successfully reset.

OPTION 2:

To remove the Linux root password:

1. Reboot the system, and when you are at the Grub kernel selection prompt, press 'e' for edit. You may only have 2 seconds to do this, so be quick.
2. This will take you to another screen where you should select the entry that begins with 'kernel' and press 'e' again.
3. Append ' single' to the end of that line (without the quotes). Make sure that there is a space between what's there and 'single'. Hit 'Enter' to save the changes.
4. Press 'b' to boot into Single User Mode.
5. Once the system finishes booting, you will be logged in as root. Use passwd and choose a new password for root.
6. Type reboot to reboot the system, and you can login with the new password you just selected.

NOTES

NOTE: The default password for the SSH user of root is:   unitrends1

Warning: Unitrends highly recommends against using any form of the string 'unitrend' in any password. Any password containing this phrase, in either the UI or OS, should be changed immediately. See also Password Reset: How to reset the root password of the Web Administrative Interface on your Unitrends system.