==== First Time Login ====

The first time you log into a CS workstation with a temporary password, the login page will help you reset your password. First, enter your username (this will be the same as your Vassar email address, before the @-symbol):

{{:help:reset0.jpg?nolink&400|}}

Enter your temporary password, which should have been given to you by your professor or sysadmin:

{{:help:reset1.jpg?nolink&400|}}

If there is an error, try again starting with your username. If you enter the temporary password correctly, it will ask you to enter it one more time:

{{:help:reset2.jpg?nolink&400|}}

Then, choose a password (see the "Create a Password" section below for guidelines) and enter it twice to confirm:

{{:help:reset3.jpg?nolink&400|}}

==== Reset Your Password ====
To reset your account password, contact System Administrator Andrew McDonald by email at andrewmcdonald@vassar.edu or visit his office at SP 307.2. Please include your full name and username when requesting a password reset.
==== Create a Password ====

Computer Science linux accounts conform to CIS's password policy:
  * [[https://servicedesk.vassar.edu/solutions/504960-best-practice-password-security.portal|Password Information from Vassar College CIS]]


A strong password contains:
  * at least 16 characters
  * a mix of letters, numbers and special characters
  *  mIxED caSE

Creating:
  * http://strongpasswordgenerator.com 
  * //pwgen// on the Linux command line
    * //pwgen 16 1// to create one 16-character password; see //man pwgen// for help

==== Changing Your Password - GUI ====

Login passwords can be changed after you log in using the 

                              Menu --> All -->  About Me 

         This pops up a message box "About [Firstname] [Last Name]".
         Click [Change Password].

          Enter the current password and click [Authenticate] to verify. 
          Enter the new password.
          Retype new password.
          Click [Change password]

Once you are notified that this succeeded, 

          Click [Close] on the "Change password" pop-up box.
          Click [Close] on the "About me" pop-up box. 
          Log out of the system and back in with your new password.


==== Changing Your Password - Command Line ====
Changing your password occasionally is a good practice and is something that is enforced in many environments.  

Two ways to change password:
  * enter //passwd// on the linux cmd line in a terminal window

Note: When you type your characters are not echoed back to the terminal. You will see nothing, not even a cursor. The entire session, if completed successfully, will look as follows:

{{:help:commandline-changepasswd.png?400|}}