LAN Support Services

Macintosh Password Information

How to change the OS X password for your local account on the Macintosh:

Power the Macintosh on or, if you're already logged in, go straight to step 4.
Enter your username and current password at the Apple login screen.
Click Login and wait for the system to finish the startup process.
Select System Preferences from the Dock or from the blue Apple on the Menu Bar.
Select Accounts in the System Preferences.
Select your account.
Select the password field and hit the delete key.
Enter your current password in the current password filed on the pop-up window that says "To make changes you need to authenticate first."
Clear out the contents of the Password field.
Type your new local (workstation) password.

The password should follow these guidelines:

6-7 characters in length.
Use upper and lower case letters.
Use of at least 1 number.

Type in the password again in the Verify field.
Do not include a hint.
Close the system preferences

Please refrain from using dictionary words or other personal type data (i.e. pet or offspring's name or dates). A common procedure is to replace numbers for vowels. 1 for i, 3 for e, 4 for a and zero for o. So, "sailing" under these rules would become S41l1ng and would be considered complex. Please do not use 8 or more characters. With the Apple operating system, complex passwords cannot exceed 7 characters when changing/assigning them through OS X to Novell (your network drives). While your local password can be of any length, there is a 7 character limit for the network. So, please hold yourself to 6-7 characters for both local and network passwords to eliminate some confusion.

Password Requirements:

Between 6 and 8 characters.i
At least 1 UPPER case letter.
At least 1 lower case letter.
At least 1 number.
Must not contain username, or any part of their name.
Is not a password which has been used before.

To change your LSS Novell File Server password:

From a browser, via the Internet LSS maintains a password self-service page whereby LSS supported customers can change their Novell password anytime or anywhere. Users must keep in mind this does not reset their workstation computer passwords. That needs changed following the instructions above on how to reset a workstation password.

Open your Internet browser (Firefox, Safari, IE) and navigate to the password self-service page located here.
Log in to the site using your current Novell username and password.i
After reading the introductory information about what password criteria has been set for password complexity, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Type the new password, following the password hardening criteria identified above.
Tab to the next field, confirm the password
Click "apply" and password for Novell access will be reset.

From the desktop:

If you are working on anything, make sure you save any open files and close any applications.
Make sure you are not logged into your LSS Volume. If you are, drag the desktop item to trash. This will unmount you from the network storage device.i
Select Go from the menu bar or press Apple-k.
Login to your LSS Novell File Server.
Enter your username if it isn't already in the name field.
Click Options.
Click Change Password.
Uncheck "Allow Clear Text Password" if checked and click Save Preferences.
Make sure "Add Password to Keychain" is unchecked. Uncheck it and click Save Preferences if it is checked.
Steps 8 and 9 are important. Please make sure both "Allow Clear Text Password" and "Add Password to Keychain" are unchecked.
Enter old network password in the Old Password field.
Follow the password guidelines below in choosing a new password.
Enter your new password into New Password field.
Re-enter it into the Confirm Password field.
Click OK.
Finish logging in normally to your LSS Novell File Server after that.

If a user encounters difficulty, password assistance is available M-F 8-5 by calling 864-0400.