To reset the root password, you will need to boot to alternate media, mount the root filesystem, and clear the encrypted password from /etc/shadow


  1. Drop to the open boot prom
  2. Boot to single user mode from cd-rom or network:
    3. ok} boot cdrom -s
  3. Perform the fsck - You need to know the controller, target, drive, and slice of the root filesystem:
    4. # fsck -y /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s0
  4. Mount the root filesystem on /mnt
    5. # mount /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s0 /mnt
  5. Set the terminal type to something vi will understand
    6. # TERM=vt100
# export TERM
  6. Remove the ecrypted password string from /mnt/etc/shadow, deleting everything between the first two colons as shown below:
    7. # vi /mnt/etc/shadow

root:GAXgz3AFB8m2M:6445::::::
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  7. Save the file, and unmount the root filesystem
    8. # umount /mnt
  8. If the root filesystem is mirrored, repeat the procedure for both halves of the mirror - otherwise, reboot and set a new password for the root user