RHEL 7 is a widely used operating system that can offer a great deal of customization. It is often used in corporate organizations due to its reliability, security, and rich features. RHEL 7 is based on the Linux kernel and is used by millions of users worldwide. However, losing or forgetting the root password can be a major problem. Without the root password, users are unable to perform critical tasks such as installing software, changing settings, and more. In this blog post, we will discuss several ways to break the root password on RHEL 7.
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Why You Need to Break Root Password on RHEL 7
There are several reasons why you may need to break the root password on RHEL 7. These include:
1. Forgotten root password: One of the most common reasons for breaking the root password on RHEL 7 is forgetting the password. It can happen to anyone, especially when the password is complex or not used often.
2. Security testing: IT professionals may need to break the root password on RHEL 7 to test system vulnerabilities and security.
3. Server migration: If you are migrating servers, you may need to break the root password on RHEL 7 to access data or perform system tasks.
Method 1: Boot into Single User Mode
Booting into single-user mode is a common method that can be used to break the root password on RHEL 7. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Power on or restart your RHEL 7 server.
2. At the BIOS screen, press the F11 key to enter the boot menu.
3. Select the RHEL 7 installation media (DVD or USB) that you used to install the OS.
4. At the boot menu, select Troubleshooting and then Rescue a Fedora system.
5. Choose the root partition for the system (/dev/sda1 or /dev/sdb2, for example) and press Enter.
6. Choose whether to mount the root filesystem in read-write mode or read-only mode. Choose read-write mode and press Enter.
7. Select Execute a shell in order to start a single-user shell and press Enter.
8. After the system finishes loading, you will see a shell prompt. Type the command "passwd root" to reset the root password.
9. When prompted, enter the new root password.
10. Reboot the system by typing "reboot".
Pros: This method is simple and does not require any additional tools.
Cons: Anyone with physical access to the server can use this method to break the root password.
Method 2: Use the GRUB Menu
The GRUB menu is a boot loader that is used to select the operating system to boot. It can also be used to break the root password on RHEL 7. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Power on or restart your RHEL 7 server.
2. At the GRUB menu, press the "e" key to edit the boot options.
3. Find the line that starts with "linux16" and add the following text at the end: "rd.break enforcing=0". It should look like this: linux16 /vmlinuz-3.10.0-693.el7.x86_64 root=/dev/mapper/rhel-root rd.lvm.lv=rhel/root rd.lvm.lv=rhel/swap rhgb quiet rd.break enforcing=0
4. Press Ctrl + x or F10 to boot the system into emergency mode.
5. Type the command "mount -o remount,rw /sysroot" to mount the root filesystem in read-write mode.
6. Enter the command "chroot /sysroot" to switch to the root filesystem.
7. Type the command "passwd" to reset the root password.
8. When prompted, enter the new root password.
9. Type the command "touch /.autorelabel" to enable SELinux to relabel the file system.
10. Reboot the system by typing "reboot".
Pros: This method is easy to use and only requires editing the boot options.
Cons: It can be difficult to find the correct line to edit in the GRUB menu.
Method 3: Use a Live CD or USB Drive
Using a live CD or USB drive can be an effective way to break the root password on RHEL 7. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Create a live CD or USB drive with a bootable Linux-based operating system, such as Ubuntu or CentOS.
2. Insert the CD or USB drive into your RHEL 7 server and boot from the device.
3. Once the live operating system boots, open a terminal window.
4. Type the command "su" to switch to the root user.
5. Type the command "fdisk -l" to list the available disks and partitions.
6. Identify the RHEL 7 root partition (such as /dev/sda1) and mount it to a temporary directory by using the command "mount /dev/sda1 /mnt".
7. Navigate to the /mnt/etc directory and open the file called "shadow" with a text editor.
8. Find the line that starts with "root:" and remove everything between the first two colons. It should look like this: root::12345…
9. Save the file and exit the text editor.
10. Unmount the root partition by typing "umount /mnt".
11. Reboot the system by typing "reboot".
Pros: This method works with any Linux-based live operating system.
Cons: It requires some technical knowledge and can be time-consuming.
What to Do If You Can’t Break Root Password on RHEL 7
If you are unable to break the root password on RHEL 7, there are a few things you can try:
1. Use a password reset disk: If you created a password reset disk beforehand, you can use it to reset the root password.
2. Contact customer support: If you are using RHEL 7 in an enterprise environment, you can contact customer support for assistance with resetting the root password.
3. Reinstall RHEL 7: If all else fails, you can reinstall RHEL 7. However, this will result in data loss and may not be feasible in some situations.
Bonus Tip
If you require additional security for your RHEL 7 server, consider enabling two-factor authentication or implementing a password policy that requires regular password changes and complex passwords.
5 FAQs
Q1: How can I prevent forgetting the root password on RHEL 7?
A: One way to prevent forgetting the root password is to use a password manager to securely store and manage passwords. You can also use a password policy that requires regular password changes and includes tips for creating strong passwords.
Q2: Can I break the root password on RHEL 7 remotely?
A: No, you must have physical access to the server to break the root password using the methods described in this blog post.
Q3: Will breaking the root password on RHEL 7 affect my data?
A: Breaking the root password will not affect your data, but it will give you full access to the system, which could result in inadvertent data loss or other issues if you are not careful.
Q4: Is it legal to break the root password on RHEL 7?
A: It is legal to break the root password on RHEL 7 if you are the owner or authorized user of the system, or if you have written permission from the owner or authorized user.
Q5: Can I use these methods to break passwords for other Linux-based operating systems?
A: These methods may work for other Linux-based operating systems, but the steps and commands may vary depending on the specific operating system.
Final Thoughts
Breaking the root password on RHEL 7 can be a daunting task, but there are several methods that can be used to accomplish it. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can regain access to your system and continue to perform critical tasks and functions. However, it is important to use these methods responsibly and to take additional security precautions to prevent future password issues.