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!![]()

Lenovo - Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16" 2K Touchscreen Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 5 Proces...
$749.99
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 G2 14-Inch AMD Ryzen R5 5650U 16GB, 512GB SSD Win 11 Pro
$398.99
Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 3 15.6" 16GB, Thunder Black
$241.50
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 14" i7-1165G7 2.80GHz 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Windows 11
$284.99
LENOVO THINKPAD T14 GEN 2i CORE I7-11165G7 2.8GHZ 16GB 256 SSD WCAM WI1 CORD
$235.00
Lenovo - IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6" Full HD Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 40 2025 - 8GB Memo...
$379.99
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 i5-1145G7 16GB 512GB SSD Touch Win 11 Pro Good
$261.99
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16" WUXGA Touch Ryzen 7 8845HS 16GB 512GB SSD FPReader
$571.00
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 14" Touchscreen i7-1185G7 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Win 11
$284.99
Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 3 15.6" 16GB, Thunder Black
$241.50