Reset a forgotten system password

IMPORTANT: The steps in this section require console access to the virtual machine.

If you forget the bitnami user’s password for a Bitnami virtual machine, follow the steps below to reset it:

• Configure the GRUB boot loader to boot directly to the Bash shell in read-write mode as the root user. To do this:

  • Boot the virtual machine and immediately press the Esc key to load the boot menu.
  • Type e to edit the boot commands.
  • Navigate down the menu until you are on the line starting with kernel.
  • Type e to edit that line.

  • Change

    (...) ro quiet splash
    

    to

    (...) rw init=/bin/bash
    

  • Save the change with the Enter key.

  • Boot the system with the b key.

  NOTE: The changes made are temporary and will be reset after a reboot.

• Once the system boots to a Bash shell, run the command below and enter a new password when prompted:

  $ passwd bitnami
  

• Reboot the virtual machine.

You should now have access to the bitnami user account with the new password.