PowerProtect: How to reset the root password from single user mode

Summary: The reset steps may be used when the root password is lost, or the recover expired account steps are not working (Dell KB 538547). This applies to PowerProtect Data Manager (PPDM).

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Instructions

  • Open a browser session to the vSphere Web Client and authenticate with an administrator account.
  • Browse the inventory to find the PowerProtect Appliance (PPDM) and take a virtual machine snapshot.
  • Launch the VMware Remote Console window for the PowerProtect Appliance.
  • Select the "Restart Guest OS" option for the PowerProtect Appliance.
  • While rebooting, press the "ESC" button in order to access the GNU GRUB boot loader screen.

  • Select the first option and type "e" to edit the boot command. (NOTE: Hold the Shift key if the GNU GRUB options screen is not loading)


  •  In the GNU GRUB boot loader page, add the option to start a bash shell with write permissions in the Linux line (See screenshot): rw init=/bin/bash

  • Press "CTRL+x" to boot the appliance in single user mode with the new Linux kernel option.
  • Type the passwd command to set the new root password: passwd

  • Restart the PowerProtect appliance: reboot
  • If the reboot command does not work (error = "failed to talk to init daemon"), use the force option:  sudo systemctl reboot --force --force

Additional Information

Dell Knowledge Base 000020479 - How to change OS password aging policy in PowerProtect.

Affected Products

PowerProtect Data Manager, PowerProtect X400 Appliance, PowerProtect Software
Article Properties
Article Number: 000181219
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 07 Aug 2025
Version:  3
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