If you forgotten the root password on AIX server, then please follow the below step by step method to recover or reset the root password.
➥ You need to insert the operating system same version media disk on cd/dvd rom and power on the AIX machine.
➥ When the screen of icons appears, or you hear a double beep sound from hardware of AIX, please press the F1 key repeatedly until the System Management Services menu appears.
➥ Select Multi boot option from the SMS (System Management Services) menu
➥ Select Install From option from multi boot screen.
➥ Select the device (CD rom) that keep the AIX operating system image and then select Install.
➥ Select the AIX version icon from the screen menu.
➥ Please describe your current system as the system console by pressing the F1 key and then press Enter.
➥ In this step you need to select the number of your preferred language and press Enter. In my case I use global language "English".
➥ Once you select the language in this step you need to select Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery by typing 3 and press Enter.
➥ In the second last step you can ignore the messages like that "select Access a Root Volume Group".
A message displays explaining that you will not be able to return to the Installation menus without rebooting if you change the root volume group at this point.
A message displays explaining that you will not be able to return to the Installation menus without rebooting if you change the root volume group at this point.
➥ Please Type 0 and press Enter.
Type the number of the appropriate volume group from the list and press Enter.
Select Access this Volume Group and start a shell by typing 1 and press Enter.
At the # (number sign) prompt, type the passwd command at the command line prompt to reset the root password.
# passwd
Changing password for "root"
root's New password:
Enter the new password again:
Type the number of the appropriate volume group from the list and press Enter.
Select Access this Volume Group and start a shell by typing 1 and press Enter.
At the # (number sign) prompt, type the passwd command at the command line prompt to reset the root password.
# passwd
Changing password for "root"
root's New password:
Enter the new password again:
➥ In the final step , you need to write everything from the buffer to the hard disk and reboot the system.
sync;sync;sync;reboot
When the login screen appears, the password you set in above step 11 should now permit access to root privileges.
sync;sync;sync;reboot
When the login screen appears, the password you set in above step 11 should now permit access to root privileges.