Resetting XCP-ng lost root password

Software & Web Applications
4

Thanks Tom. Your steer was enough! :smiley:

I tried downloading UIbuntu live CD, but found it confusing to download an installer, boot from it to create a live CD… perhaps the server ISO was a mistake and desktop iso would allow live boot. Taking a hint from your endless recommendations I tried Debian and it worked fine first time. I recommend Debian Live ISO to anyone who later follows this path - below is a summary of my steps, all of which came from the recommended page from Tom (above).

  1. Download Debian Live am64 standard ISO, and create a bootable USB memory stick with belana Etcher. Use a USB memory stick which is ordinary so the BIOS will access it. Hint - not USB3 :wink:
  2. Boot from USB stick: Dell t410 +F11 at boot → UEFI boot menu, select memory stick…
  3. From boot menu, choose Live boot, at linux prompt …
  4. sudo su - to switch to root user, prompt changes
  5. fdisk -l to list partitions. Find the one which is the boot drive (I found my by size) and look for the sd[abc][0-9] that is a good size, probably the system partition. This is THE critical thing to get right
  6. mkdir /mnt/recover to attach the system partition to.
  7. mount /dev/sd[abc][0-9] /mnt/recover to attach the system partition
  8. chroot /mnt/recover to swtich to the mounted system partition. The prompt changes?
  9. passwd root, and enter the new password and confirm
  10. exit
  11. umount /mnt/recover
  12. exit
  13. sudo reboot now, and remove the USB stick

The system reboots, and log in with the new password.

  1. Record the password in your password manager, stupid.

Thank you Tom. I owe you (again). The generosity of your time and experience is what makes your channel really worthwhile watching, and I am sure your customers in the US loyal and long term.

Best regards from the UK.