HPSS Passwords

HPSS uses the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) for user authentication. DCE accounts are currently handled separately from other NERSC accounts.

New or Forgotten Passwords

If you are getting a new HPSS account or forget your HPSS/DCE password contact NERSC Support at 1-800-66-NERSC, option 2, or (510) 486-8612 to get your password reset.

The password you receive from NERSC Account Support is temporary and must be changed before you access HPSS. Follow the procedure described below for changing your password.

Changing Your HPSS Password

You change your HPSS/DCE password by using ssh to connect to the NERSC Authentication Server, "auth.nersc.gov", and following the next example.

You will need to know a special login/password pair to log onto the authentication server, "auth.nersc.gov". This information can be obtained by logging onto any NERSC machine and typing the command:

      % module help WWW
      

Note that this special login/password pair is only for initial access to the authentication server and is not to be confused with your HPSS/DCE username and password. To change your password do:

      % ssh auth.nersc.gov -l {special login}
      Enter Password: {special password}
      [auth]: chpass
      DCE Principal: your_HPSS_user_name
      Enter Password: your_HPSS/DCE_password
      New Password: new_HPSS/DCE_passwd
      Re-enter new Password: new_HPSS/DCE_passwd
      % exit
      

Note: The above example is similar, but not identical to the procedure used to generate the encrypted identity combo strings needed for FTP access to HPSS; to learn more about that matter, go to the PFTP/FTP Authentication web page.

For more general info on DCE technology, see the DCE web page.