One thing that strikes out is a typo there.FORUMULA=`date +%B | md5sum | cut -f1 -d' '`
I have a remastered Knoppix CD I'd like to have the root password changed automatically. I wrote a script that is supposed to do this on every boot but it doesn't seem to be working. Can someone please check the script and tell me where its going wrong?
Thanks!
Code:#!/bin/bash OFFSET=`ntpdate -q 192.5.41.41 | tail -n1 | cut -f4 -d':' | cut -f7 -d' ' | cut -f1 -d'.'` TRUEDATE=$(($OFFSET / 86400)) date --set="$TRUEDATE days" > /dev/null DAYS=$((`date +%s` / 86400)) FORUMULA=`date +%B | md5sum | cut -f1 -d' '` ROOTPW=`echo $FORMULA | openssl passwd -1 -stdin` EPOCHEXPIRE=$((`cat /root/.epoch` + 365)) ## .epoch is created when cd is created...basically its EPOCHDATE=$((`date +%s` / 86400)) > /root/.epoch echo "`grep -v \:root /etc/passwd`" > /etc/passwd echo "`grep -v root /etc/shadow`" > /etc/shadow echo root:x:0:0:root:/root:$RL >> /etc/passwd echo root:$ROOTPW:$DAYS::::$EPOCHEXPIRE:: >> /etc/shadow
One thing that strikes out is a typo there.FORUMULA=`date +%B | md5sum | cut -f1 -d' '`
You can't redirect into the same file.
echo "`grep -v \:root /etc/passwd`" > /etc/passwd.tmp
echo "`grep -v root /etc/shadow`" > /etc/shadow.tmp
echo root:0:0:root:/root:$RL >> /etc/passwd.tmp
echo root:$ROOTPW:$DAYS::::$EPOCHEXPIRE:: >> /etc/shadow.tmp
mv -f /etc/passwd.tmp /etc/passwd
mv -f /etc/shadow.tmp /etc/shadow
You may need to:
chmod u+w /etc/passwd /etc/shadow
to be able to write to them and then
chmod u-w /etc/passwd /etc/shadow
AH YES...thank you!
that line now reads as follows...
Still does not work thoughCode:MONTH=`date +%B` FORMULA=`echo $MONTH | md5sum | cut -f1 -d' '`![]()
Oops sorry, I made a mistake.
Don't do it like this:
echo "`grep -v \:root /etc/passwd`" > /etc/passwd.tmp
echo "`grep -v root /etc/shadow`" > /etc/shadow.tmp
Do it like this:
grep -v \:root /etc/passwd > /etc/passwd.tmp
grep -v root /etc/shadow > /etc/shadow.tmp
Also, shouldn't your grep filtering of the root entry look like...
grep -v '^root:' ...
in editing the script again i found the problem...basically a typo!...FORMULA is mispelled if you read below...causing a blank pw everytime...
smxsteve...
have you tried the commands? it works...and works nicely...as for the grep -v '^root:' ...
since on my knoppix cd there is another account that has /root as its home i have to separate that from this one...
Markus...
thank you!!! you found it! i was just looking in the wrong spot for typo...
here is my current working portion of my aioscript that changes the admin password at boot time...just make sure you keep the formula a secret...
If you guys want to know what is my aioscript i have a thread in the ms windows section about itCode:#!/bin/bash OFFSET=`ntpdate -q 192.5.41.41 | tail -n1 | cut -f4 -d':' | cut -f7 -d' ' | cut -f1 -d'.'` TRUEDATE=$(($OFFSET / 86400)) date --set="$TRUEDATE days" > /dev/null DAYS=$((`date +%s` / 86400)) FORMULA=`date +%B | md5sum | cut -f1 -d' '` ROOTPW=`echo $FORMULA | openssl passwd -1 -stdin` EPOCHEXPIRE=$((`cat /root/.epoch` + 365)) ## .epoch is created when cd is created...basically its EPOCHDATE=$((`date +%s` / 86400)) > /root/.epoch echo "`grep -v \:root /etc/passwd`" > /etc/passwd echo "`grep -v root /etc/shadow`" > /etc/shadow echo root:x:0:0:root:/root:$RL >> /etc/passwd echo root:$ROOTPW:$DAYS:::::$EPOCHEXPIRE: >> /etc/shadow
thank you for your input...i knew it was something simple![]()
Oh I see what you are doing! I didn't read it clearly. I thought your redirection was part of the problem as well as the typo.
What you are doing re-creating the files minus the root entries. Neet! That's a good way to do it!
Sorry for my bogus posts!![]()

Acer Aspire 14" AI Copilot+PC Laptop Core Ultra 5 226V Gen 4 ARC 16GB 1TB Refurb
$475.60
Dell Latitude 14" Laptop Computer Intel i5 Up To 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Windows 11 Pro
$316.61
Apple MacBook Pro 13" 2020 A2251 2GHz i5 16GB RAM 512GB SSD #69
$260.00
External SSD 1TB 2TB Portable Hard Drive USB 3.1 Type-C High Speed PC Mac
$15.99
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI 16" i9 275HX 2S RTX 5070 Ti 32GB 1TB SSD Refurb
$1785.15
SAMSUNG T7 Portable SSD 1TB Indigo Blue USB 3.2 Gen2 External MU-PC1T0H/AM
$159.99
Netac 2TB 1TB 500GB Internal SSD M.2 NVMe PCIe3.0 Solid State Drive lot
$129.99
$69.00
Dell Latitude 14" Laptop Computer Intel i7 Up To 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Windows 11 Pro
$427.48
2026 SGIN 15.6" Laptop Intel Core i3 16GB RAM 1TB SSD Win 11 Backlit Keyboard
$335.99