setting startup password

Not sure what you are asking. Do you mean you have multiple users and want them all to log in using a password, not by bypassing the logon box?

If so, see this previous question:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=61205

Sometimes when I copy and paste URL's it looks ok to me but once the answer is posted, an extraneous space will have crept in. Make sure you delete any extraneous spaces or the page won't load).

By windows, I assume you are talking about X Windows - seeing as this is a linux admin section.

All you should have to do is
vi /etc/inittab
and change the line:
id:3:initdefault:
to
id:5:initdefault:

Now when you reboot, it will go to run level 5 (X Windows logon) instead of 3. It should pop up with the X windows login - depending on what linux distribution you have (I'm on Redhat 7.1). I'm pretty sure Debian will do the same.

Regards,
Mike.

Do yuo mean that when the computer is first switched on you need to enter a password to let the computer boot up? If so, you need to go into the computer's BIOS as it boots up - how you get in depends on the system you are using...normally as the PC starts you get a message similar to 'Press f10 to enter setup'. Once in the BIOS, you can set a boot password, normally there is a section for security settings, or general settings - again it depends on the machine you are using.

BE WARNED...make sure you keep a record of the password somewhere as if you forget it, resetting it is a bitch.

HTH

Richard

If you want Linux to prompt your for a password every time the system is booted, you need to edit /etc/lilo.conf. There are three steps here:

1. Use the "restricted" label in /etc/lilo.conf to ensure that lilo will ask for a password.

2. Define the password in the next line.

3. Run /sbin/lilo to re-install LILO with the new patamaters.

Don't use your root password to restrict boot access to the server. The password is in plain-text. If the /etc/lilo.conf file is compromised, your rooot password is compromised along with it.

An example of how to restrict access to LILO is show below
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
image=/boot/bzImage
label=linux
root=/dev/hda3
read-only
restricted
password=my-boot-password
append="max=128M"

other=/dev/hda1
label=dos
table=/dev/hda

Cheers

Jim

more than 1 answer. From switching on, there
is the BIOS passwd (set in BIOS, do NOT lose
it :), 'protects' ALL OSses), the LILO passwd
(add 'restricted' and 'password=...' to the
section/label you to protect (here win):
other=/dev/hda1 #(assuming win lives there :)
label=dos
table=/dev/hda
restricted
password=...

, and then you can use the trusty ;)
win-passwd (set somewhere in
control-apnel/system/network-config)

q is not clear.i assume that setting initial passwd for linux boot

edit lilo.conf and add a line password=your password then save and exit
run lilo at the prompt
restart system
it ask u to enter password to boot linux windows
i hope u mean this