No Root Password Possible On XP1000 Machines?

From: Mike Mitchell <lizrdegg_at_ntrnet.net>
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 13:51:33 -0500

     Folks-

     We're setting up a bunch of the new Dec/Compaq XP1000
Professional Workstations. One of the first problems I
encountered was that I couldn't set a "prom-level" password.
Our previous Digital 500au workstations had a prom-level
password of at least 15 characters. I decided to call Compaq
on this one, and after 1 hour and 10 minutes time and talking
to 7 different people at Compaq/Dec, I finally got to speak with
someone who could help me out. I was informed that the password
feature had been taken out of the prom-level because too many
users couldn't remember their prom-level passwords when trying
to upgrade their systems.

     Now I'm not sure whether the foregoing reason for doing away
with the prom-level password is correct, but not having a prom-level
password means that there is effectively no root password for
these machines. Unlike Solaris, for instance, you don't need
to give a root password to get these OSF machines into single user
mode. Anybody can sit down in front of one and boot into single
user and do what he/she likes.

     Am I missing something here? How can I ever leave these
machines alone in a terminal room? A simple power cycle on the
machine and any user is root!!!!!!!! Somebody please tell me
I'm wrong. If I'm not wrong, then somebody please tell me the
name of the bonehead that decided to do away with the prom-level
password.

     Thanks.

     Mike
Received on Tue Mar 30 1999 - 18:54:25 NZST

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