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Changing Passphrases/Passwords (and choosing good Passphrases/Passwords)



Note: an AEM/Enet Unix password is ONLY needed for people using the AEM Cluster.

If you need an AEM/Enet account, contact CSE Help (cse.umn.edu/cseit/get-help).


This Document Pertains to Your AEM/Enet Unix Passphrase/Password

Important Passphrase/Password Guidlines

  • Choose a good Passphrase/Password. ANY Passphrase/Password derived from ANY dictionary word (or personal information), modified in ANY way, is a potentially guessable Passphrase/Password.

  • Sharing of accounts is forbidden. If others need access to your files or the AEM/Enet systems, we can create a separate account for them.

  • Never give nor email any Passphrase/Password to ANYONE nor ANY SERVICE.
    This includes:
    • The Computer Staff should NEVER need to know your Passphrases/Passwords to fix problems with your account. We have administration privileges already.
    • Google should NEVER store your Passphrases/Passwords (you can forward your mail to them).
    • Your Supervisor and Co-Workers should NEVER know your Passphrases/Passwords, they should be able to get at things with their own Passphrase/Password.
    • Your Friends and Family should NEVER know your Passphrase/Password.

  • If you must write a Passphrase/Password down (we suggest you don't), keep it safe as you would your credit card (keep it with you at all times so no one else can find it).

  • NEVER send any Passphrase/Password via e-mail (nor instant messaging). E-mail is NEVER secure (it can be intercepted, and can end up with the wrong person).

  • NEVER leave any Passphrase/Password on anything near a computer (not even in a file in your home directory).

  • Cell Phones, Tablets, and Laptops are Not secure enough to save passwords on them.

  • It is a good idea to change your Passphrases/Passwords periodically (about once a year) - especially if you think someone else may know it.

  • Use different Passphrases/Passwords for accounts on different systems

IMPORTANT INFORMATION About Your AEM/Enet Unix Passphrase/Password:

  • After an AEM/Enet account is made - you have 5 days to change the initial AEM/Enet Unix Passphrase/Password before your AEM/Enet Passphrase/Password automatically expires itself.
    If you allow it to expire, you won't be able to use nor change it.
    NOTE: if you Enet Passphrase/Password is expired, your account will still be active (and you can still use it with your University/Internet password).

  • If your AEM/Enet Unix account is disabled or deleted - You will NOT have access to Any AEM/Enet RESOURCES.
    Your AEM/Enet Unix account must be in good standing for access to AEM/Enet Windows resources to work (even though they use your AD Passphrase/Password).
    Note - an expired AEM/Enet Passphrase/Password does not block access to Windows resources (your account is still in good standing).

  • Your University of Minnesota Active Directory (AD) Passphrase/Password is used to connect to Windows resources (examples: AEM/Enet Home Directories and AEM/Enet Printing), and to log on to All AD.umn.edu attached Windows Machines.
    Your Internet/AD Passphrase/Password is changed here: my-account.umn.edu (note: your AD Passphrase/Password is automatically set the same as your Internet Passphrase/Password).

  • Your AEM/Enet Unix Passphrase/Password is only used to log on to:
    • Linux/Unix Machines that are FULLY managed by AEM/Enet (like the SSH Gateways).
      You can now use your UofM AD password ( + DUO ) to log into the SSH gateways.
      And all our other Linux client machines (except the clusters) accept AD passwords as well.
      (Even if your AEM/Enet password is expired, or NOT set).
    • NOTE: The ACDB uses UofM Internet Passwords (not AEM/Enet Passwords).

Please Note Some Passphrase/Password Maximum Length Limitations:

  • You MUST use a Passphrase/Password of at least 16 characters

  • Enet Unix Passphrase/Password: 30 characters max for full compatibility with the following:
    • Linux/unix Console X Login: 30 characters max (Login on a Graphical Linux console)
    • Linux/unix Terminal Login: 100 characters max (Login on a text only Linux console)
    • ssh: 100 characters max (Login to a Linux machine via ssh - or use scp/sftp)

Changing Your ENET (Unix) Passphrase/Password - SSH Method:

  • Log on to an Enet SSH Gateway Machine


  • Use the following command to change your Passphrase/Password): 
    			
			yppasswd
  • NOTE: it may take up to 15 minutes for your new password to start working.





Last Modified: 2026-05-26 at 12:04:02 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation