If you no longer know the root password for your ClearOS 5.x system, you can use the following steps to reset it. For security reasons this procedure cannot be carried out remotely; it must be done from the console (keyboard and monitor) while physically at the server. For ClearOS 6.x systems, click here.
First, you need to boot your system into maintenance (single user) mode:
The boot will continue as it usually does with the exception that it will not run any of the traditional items (init3 or init5).
Once the operating system has loaded you will be at a prompt similar to the following:
sh-3.2#
sh-3.2# passwd Changing password for user root New UNIX password:
If you have used a weak password (one based on a dictionary word) it will state:
BAD PASSWORD: it is based on a dictionary word
In this mode, it will take weak passwords in spite of the fact that they are weak.
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.
sh-3.2# reboot