Changing Passwords - Novell LINUX ENTERPRISE SERVER 11 - SECURITY Manual

5.5 Changing Passwords

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server has the ability to help a user choose a suitable new
password that meets the corporate security policy. The underlying PAM module retrieves
the current password policy settings from the domain controller. It informs about the
specific password quality requirements a user account typically has by means of a
message at login time. Like the Windows counterpart, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
presents a message describing:
• Password history settings
• Minimum password length requirements
• Minimum password age
• Password complexity
The password change process cannot succeed unless all requirements have been suc-
cessfully satisfied. Feedback about the password status is given both through the display
managers and the console.
GDM and KDM provide feedback about password expiration and prompt for new
passwords in an interactive mode. To change passwords in the display managers, just
provide the password information when prompted to do so.
To change your Windows password, you can use the standard Linux utility, passwd,
instead of having to manipulate this data on the server. To change your Windows
password, proceed as follows:
1 Log in at the console.
2 Enter passwd.
3 Enter your current password when prompted to do so.
4 Enter the new password.
5 Reenter the new password for confirmation. If your new password does not
comply with the policies on the Windows server, this feedback is given to you
and you are prompted for another password.
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