unable to change the root password?

UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users
1

I tried to change the root password. but it shows the following error.

passwd: Authentication token manipulation error
passwd: password unchanged

If I login as a normal user that time I'm able to change my (user) password.
If I login as a ROOT then I'm not able to change the password root password.
How to solve this problem.

2

Hi,
Is this a standalone system or bound to a NIS server ?

-Raja

3

NIS server.

4

If its NIS, and if you need to change the root password at NIS, you should use

yppasswd root

However you can also make your system's root password refer to your local passwd entry and rest of the user's login to refer NIS. To do this you need to unbind from NIS (stop ypbind), change root passwd using

passwd root

-Raja

5

sorry.. rajamadhavan
the yppasswd command is not found.
i'm using Ubuntu OS...
for standalone system how to solve this problem?

6

at my Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5.2 it is /usr/bin/yppasswd

7

  • did you any update last success passwd ?

  • did you check permission /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow

  • is there you any change entries in /etc/pam.d/common_password ?