Changing Administrator password on Panther

[pontifex]

I started this thread on another forum. I’m coming here because they’ve been less with forthcoming with help or things to attempt. See the related link.

I've been handed control of a Mac lab at my school. The former admin was supposed to document, but he didn't. To lock this slack-tastic wonder out of my network I wanted to change the password on my local Panther server.

Being the Unix geek that I am, I SSH'd to the server, logged in as administrator and called 'passwd' to change my password. Now Workgroup Manager doesn't work.

It was suggested that I attempt to edit the NetInfo database directly. I tried via the 'Netinfo Manager', but that didn't do anything helpful. Now I can't authenticate on the 'Netinfo Manager' on the server and I still can't become fully authenticated with the 'Workgroup Manager' on my own account. I am able to authenticate on the server directly, with the GUI and console. I'm able to install software, use 'sudo', etc.

I tired to use the 'pwpolicy' command since 'administrator' authenticates with the PasswordService, but I got an odd error:

pwpolicy -a administrator -u administrator -setpassword apple

*** Error: dsDoDirNodeAuth failed with error = -14090
  Method = dsAuthMethodStandard:dsAuthSetPasswd

I can't find a reference to that error code anywhere. I have verified that I can authenticate correctly with 'pwpolicy'.

I tried to modify the password with the install discs, but I didn't see any simple tools for changing the password when browsing the CDs. I assume I have to boot off them in order to change the password, but when I restarted the server with the OSX install disc inserted it did not boot off the disc. Is there an easy way to allow for booting off the disc on a Mac platform? I'm only familiar with the PC configuration methods.

 

[symphonix]

Yes, you do have to boot off the install CDs. Do this by loading the CD into the drive, and then power on the computer while holding down the "C" key. Once the installer loads, and you select a language, a menu bar will appear across the top of the screen. Under "Applications" (or is it "Utilities") you will find an option to reset the master password.

 

[Kees Buijs]

Yes, you do have to boot off the install CDs. Do this by loading the CD into the drive, and then power on the computer while holding down the "C" key. Once the installer loads, and you select a language, a menu bar will appear across the top of the screen. Under "Applications" (or is it "Utilities") you will find an option to reset the master password.

Also note that when using open directory, the administrator user = diradmin.

 

[pontifex]

Excellent. Worked like a charm. thanks =)