topic cifs setup requires changing root password in Microsoft Virtualization Discussions

cifs setup requires changing root password

jon_presti — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:48:30 GMT

So, when running cifs setup to enter into a workgroup mode, it requires me to change the root password. I am certain I am missing something small here but, thought I would ask.

Thanks,

Presti

cifs setup requires changing root password

timothyn — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:55:41 GMT

Hi Presti,

I'm not sure if this is a PowerShell related question, but yes the "cifs setup" command does require a password change if the /etc/passwd file does not exist. If you use the DataONTAP PowerShell toolkit, you can create this file with the "New-NaCifsPasswordFile" cmdlet without needing to change the root password. Alternatively you could create the file at the storage prompt using the wrfile command with the text from another controller.

That file is commonly used to map usernames to user IDs, but the passwords are ignored unless you have a service (e.g. cifs, ftp) configured to use passwd authentication.

Regards,

Eric

Re: cifs setup requires changing root password

tsentekin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:02:39 GMT

Alternatively on the filer there's a security policy option :

if you switch "options security.passwd.rules.enable" to off, CIFS won't ask for a password during setup, preferably you can later turn this option to on again.