Q: How do I change my UNIX/Polaris password? (access problems)
The most frequent Polaris access problem is that a password has expired. Passwords for Polaris accounts expire every 180 days. This FAQ covers changing your Polaris password under 3 circumstances:
- You can still login via telnet (even if you cannot login via your FTP program)
- You cannot login via telnet (password has completely expired, or you've forgotten it)
- You simply want to change your password, even if it hasn't expired.
A: NOTE: To change your password for any reason, you must telnet directly into Polaris: telnet://polaris.umuc.edu. (Or in your Windows system, go to Start/Run/and Open telnet polaris.umuc.edu).
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Requirements for Polaris Passwords Your password for Polaris (and any UNIX server) must contain at least 6 characters, including at least 1 numeral. The passwords should contain NO spaces. UNIX passwords are case-sensitive: uppercase and lowercase letters are recognized as separate characters. When you change your password, it must differ from the previous one by at least three character positions. Once you change your password, you cannot change it again for at least a day. |
1. How to change your (expired) password if you can still log in via telnet.
You can log in -- via telnet only -- after your old password has expired for 3 grace logins. So if you have typed your password correctly as you log in via telnet, in most cases you should be successful logging in. After you log in, the system will immediately tell you your password has expired and you must change your password, followed by prompts to change your password. Please refer to the box below.
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Polaris Prompts for Changing Password login: type your Polaris username
password: Here you must enter the OLD PASSWORD, that is, your most recent password, even if an old (expired) or temporary (computer-generated) one. Choose a new
password: Now you enter a NEW password, following the requirements noted in the box above. Re-enter new password: Retype your new password to confirm it. telnet: Password successfully changed for (your username). Once you receive this success notice indicating you have changed the password, you can enter Polaris again using your FTP program instead of telnet, using the new password. (To continue in the telnet window, you must use UNIX commands at the Polaris> prompts.) |
2. How to change your password if you cannot log in with your old login and password. This may occur if you are not typing the correct login or password or if your grace logins have expired.
- (Re)connect to Polaris via telnet.
- At the login: prompt, type chgpass.
This command will direct the system to reset your password to a computer-generated one. First, however, the system must identify or authenticate who you are, so it will prompt you to enter two pieces of information:
- your MyUMUC portal username (NOT your Polaris username)
- your MyUMUC portal password (This is case sensitive: be sure to enter uppercase letters correctly; the system will not display your password as you type it.)
If you don't know your MyUMUC portal username and password, contact helpdesk@umuc.edu.
After you provide this information, your Polaris account username and a temporary password will be displayed. Make careful note of your login and temporary password displayed on-screen before exiting the system.
Reconnect to Polaris via telnet and log in using the login and temporary password the system just gave you. The system will then tell you it is changing your password, followed by prompts to walk you through doing this. Please refer to the box above for the prompts.
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3. How to change your password if you simply want a new password. Connect to Polaris via telnet and login with your Polaris login (username) and regular Polaris password.
At the first Polaris> prompt, type passwd. The system will then direct you to change your password using the prompts shown in the second box on this page.
