3D Modeling Lab:  Changing Passwords

Changing Local And NFS4 Passwords

Once you become a registered user of the 3D Modeling Lab and issued an account, you are given a password that is required whenever you log onto a workstation in the Lab or in any related facility.  This is really two identical passwords, one acting as the NFS password and one acting as the Windows(local) password.  The Windows(local) password is used when you log onto a workstation, and the NFS password is used when you access the remote network file systems.  In order for your account's home directory on the NFS4 filesystem to be automatically mapped to drive "V:" on a workstation, your  NFS password must be the same as your Windows password.  Your roaming account profile will also not be available if the passwords are not matched.  In order to avoid confusion and unnecessary complications when logging in and mapping drives, be sure to use the same NFS and Windows password and be sure to change them both at the same time.

Before changing your password(s), determine what you want the new password to be, ensure that it is secure, and ensure that you have it memorized.

Changing Windows Password

  • Login on a workstation from which you can access the NFS4  filesystem.
  • Press Ctrl/Alt/Delete.
  • Select "Change Password".
  • Type in the original password.
  • Type in the new password and confirm by typing it in a second time.
  • Select "Confirm" and your local account password will be changed.  This change will take effect immediately.

Changing NFS Password

  • Login on a workstation from which you can access your NFS4 account filesystem.
  • Go to Start->Change NFS Password.  A window appears with information on the NFS password change utility.  Press any key to continue.
  • Type in your original password and press enter.
  • Type in the new password, hit enter and confirm by typing it in a second time.  Remember to make sure that it is the same as your new  Windows password.
  • Entering the new password a second time and pressing enter will change your NFS password, but the actual change may take as long as 1 hour to propagate throughout the entire network.

Creating Passwords

Poorly constructed passwords can be the weakest link in computer security.  Effective passwords are critical because password cracking tools continue to improve, the computers used to crack passwords are more powerful and people are putting more time and effort into cracking.  Password cracking software uses a variety of approaches, including intelligent guessing, dictionary attacks and automation that tries every possible combination of characters.  Given enough time the automated method can crack any password, but more effective passwords will last months before breaking.

For a password to be effective and difficult to crack it should:
  • Be at least seven characters long.
  • Contain characters from each of the following three groups:
  1. Letters (Upper and lowercase, such as a, b, c,..., A, B, C...)
  2. Numerals (0, 1, 2, 3,4 ,...)
  3. Symbols (Characters not defined as letters or numerals such as ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ...)
  • Have at least one symbol character in the second through six positions.
  • Be significantly different from prior passwords.
  • Not contain you name or user name.
  • Not be a dictionary word, name, birth date, address, or slang.
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