How to set a user password from the command line on OS X 10.8 Server.

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How to set a user password from the command line on OS X 10.8 Server.

Hi,

I want to set a users password from the command line on OS X Server 10.8. I tried dscl (dscl -u <diradminuser> -p localhost -passwd <username>) but got an authentication error (with the same uname/pwd I can use the server app to set a users password).

Online I can only find tutorials referring to Lion or older - perhaps something changed?

Regards,

Jeroen

Mac mini, OS X Server

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 5:25 AM

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Answer 1

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Linc Davis

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209,541 points

Mar 25, 2013 5:09 PM in response to jvdongen

passwd(1)

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Answer 2

jvdongen Author

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Mar 26, 2013 6:03 AM in response to Linc Davis

Hi,

passwd works but it asks for the old password of the user. I need to be able to set a password for any user as part of a password synchronisation mechanism between different systems. For that I prefer a method that just takes a new password and sets it.

Regards,

Jeroen

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Mar 26, 2013 12:31 PM in response to jvdongen

passwd works but it asks for the old password of the user.

Not when you run it as root. Please read the man page.

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