Overview

The DXi root password is proprietary and should never be given out to any end user or person not authorized by Quantum. There are several circumstances in which customers will request root access, such customers include government sites that must have root access to all servers. In such cases and after being authorized by Quantum/Management, a qualified QFE or TPM can access root and have the customer change the root password, once this is done, the only way to access the DXi is to have the customer give you root access. If for some reason the customer looses or forgets the password, the only way to change the root password is to boot into “single user mode.”

 

One of the advantages of single-user mode is that you do not need a boot CD-ROM; however, it does not give you the option to mount the file systems as read-only or not mount them at all. If your system boots, but does not allow you to log in when it has completed booting, you can then try single-user mode.

 

In single-user mode, the DXi will boot into runlevel 1 instead of 3, 4 or 5. Your local file systems are mounted, but your network is not activated. You have a usable system maintenance shell. Unlike rescue mode, single-user mode automatically tries to mount your file system. You cannot use single-user mode if the runlevel 1 configuration on your system is corrupted. If this is the case, you may need to boot into a “live” CD to diagnose further but in this scenario, GRUB IS available and you can interrupt it to get into “single user mode”

 

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Procedure

Note: A DXi0 with 2.x software was used in this example.

 

On a DXi system using GRUB, use the following steps to boot into single-user mode:

 

Step 1: Attach a keyboard to the DXi or a serial connection with PUTTY. If you have access to the GUI, issue a “reboot”, otherwise just power cycle if root access is not available. Wait for the power on sequence to begin, once you see text rolling on the screen, press the “down arrow “ key every other second or so, it will interrupt the GRUB menu and pause there as in the following example.

 

 

Step 2: The next screen should display the following menu, which is called Grub menu; it will list operating systems (in my case only CentOs installed) that you have installed on the machine. Below that you might find some information about booting the OS and editing the parameters of menu. If you want to enter into single user mode, select the operating system and press “e” edit arguments of kernel.

 

 

NOTES:

1.     On a DXi0, no password is needed to edit GRUB

2.     On a DXi, it will require the GRUB root password, please refer to ASPS/SES for the root password if required

3.     On a regular CentOs, no password is required to edit GRUB

 

Step 3: Once you have pressed “e”, you should see the information about the selected operating system (or in the case of a DXixxxx, the GRUB password will be required). First line gives the information about the hard disk and partition where the OS installed; Second line gives the information about the location of the kernel, language, video output, keyboard type, keyboard table, crash kernel, etc. the third line provides information about the initrd (Initial ram disk). To enter into single user mode, select kernel line (Line no: 2) using up and down arrow then press “e”.

 

 

Step 4: At the end of the line, add “single” to enter into single user mode. Once added, press Enter.

 

 

Step 5: You will then come back to same screen as before.

 

 

Step 6: Now press “b” to boot with newly edited parameters. Now you should be in command line mode with root privileges (without entering password). Now you can start to troubleshoot or perform maintenance tasks on the system.

 

Step 7: You should now be able to enter “passwd” and change the password back to the Quantum root password or, in the case of a government site, if they request, to whatever the customer requests.

 

Step 8: You can now reboot the DXi as normal  “reboot” or “shutdown –r now” and access it using the new password. If additional assistance is required, please contact ASPS or SES.