Reset Your Root Password (Cloud Server and vServer)

For Cloud Server and Virtual Private Server (VPS)

In this article you will learn how to reset the root password of your 1&1 Cloud Server Linux using Knoppix.

• Activate the desired server.

• Click DVD Drive.

• In the Applications tab, activate the Knoppix_7.6.1_tool DVD.

• Click Load DVD.

The DVD is loading.

• Click Actions > Restart.

• Activate the Software method.

• Click Yes to load the Knoppix operating system.

• Click Actions > Launch KVM Console.

The KVM console opens in a new tab, and the Knoppix Desktop is displayed.

• To start the Terminal Emulator, click on the bottom right corner of the task bar. The LXTerminal window opens.

• To switch to the root user without a password prompt, enter the following command:
  :~# su

• Create the directory where you want to mount the Volume Group
  :~# mkdir /mnt/old

• To determine the volume group to mount, type the following command:
  :~# vgs The volume group is displayed. Example:
  run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory 
  WARNING: Failed to connect to lvmetad. Falling back to internal scanning.
  VG      #PV    #LV    #SN    Attr       VSize     VFree
  vg00      1      2      0    wz--n-     79.52g    0In the example above, the volume group name is vg00. This name may vary depending on the Linux version.

• To enable the Volume Group, type the vgchange -ay command in the following form:
  :~# vgchange -ay NAME_OF_THE_VOLUMEExample:
  :~# vgchange -ay vg00

• To get information about the existing logical volumes, type the following command:
  :~# lvdisplay
  Usually two volume groups are displayed. Compare the VSize value displayed after you entered the vgs command with the LV Size value. The LV Size value will be displayed after you enter the lvdisplay command for each existing Logical Volume. Make a note of the path of the logical volume whose size approximately matches the VSize value. This path is displayed under LV Path.

• To mount the determined volume, enter the following command:
  :~# mount LV Path /mnt/old Example:
  :~# mount /dev/vg00/lv01 /mnt/old

• To reset the root password for the Linux operating system installed on the server, you must change the root directory by typing the following command:
  :~# chroot /mnt/old

• To change the root password, type the following command: passwd

• To leave the chroot environment, type the following command: exit

• To unmount the drives, enter the following command: umount -a

• Switch to the Cloud Panel.

• To eject the DVD, click the DVD drive.

• Click Yes.

The DVD is ejected.

• Activate the Software function.

• Click Yes. The server restarts.

• Switch to KVM Console and log in with the new password.