Changing Your Password

You may change your password at any time using the DCL command SET PASSWORD, but if you allow your password to expire, you will be required to change it at your next interactive login. Both cases will be described next.

Changing Your Password with SET PASSWORD

When you issue the SET PASSWORD command, you will be asked to answer three prompts. First, you will be asked for your old password, to confirm your identity. Next, you will be asked to enter a new password. Finally, you will be asked to enter the new password again for verification.

While answering these prompts, your keystrokes will not be displayed. You are asked for your new password twice to ensure that you typed it as you intended.

Once you've answered the three prompts, OpenVMS will check your new password for length, history, and dictionary requirements as described above. If any requirement is not met, you will see an appropriate message, and your old password will remain in effect.

Changing your password is shown below:

    $ SET PASSWORD    Old password:   [respond with your old password]    New password:   [type your desired new password]    Verification:   [type your new password again] 

You may optionally use the SET PASSWORD/GENERATE command to have OpenVMS automatically generate passwords that meet all security criteria. However, many people find generated passwords hard to remember and resort to writing them down. This is a tremendous security risk.

Using SET PASSWORD/GENERATE results in a sequence like the following:

     $ SET PASSWORD/GENERATE     Old password:     grockily     blistord     diattact     redisrap     helegies     Choose a password from this list, or press RETURN to get a new list     New password:   [enter] (I didn't like any of those...)     revisere     flebtick     toffinis     ashicart     uncestue     Choose a password from this list, or press RETURN to get a new list     New password: [new password from the list above]     Verification: [enter it again]     $ 

Note 

Your system manager can set an account so that its owner may not change the password or so that system-generated passwords are required.

Changing an Expired Password During Login

If your password has expired, your old password will be accepted at your next interactive login. However, you must immediately choose a new password or your login will not be allowed. The sequence is as follows:

     Unauthorized access prohibited.    Username: mike    Password: [old, expired password]       Welcome to OpenVMS (TM) Alpha Operating System, Version V7.1 on node PHOEBE        Last interactive login on Saturday, 14-DEC-2002 11:37:33.46        Last non-interactive login on Saturday, 14-DEC-2002 13:30:16.76    Your password has expired; you must set a new password to log in    New password: [enter a new password]    Verification: [enter it again]    $ 

Your login is now complete, and your password has been changed.