How to reset password on Storage System Dell SCv3020

Hello,

It seems you did quite well. I'll share some steps with you. Ensure the file content is correct, no extra spaces or characters. Try a different USB drive, sometimes, different drives work better. 

This procedure requires a USB device that contains a partition table with one partition formatted with an MSDOS/FAT32 filesystem. USB devices vary by vendor as to whether they are formatted with or without partitions. Use Windows disk management or other third‐party tools to create a partition if the USB device does not have an MSDOS/FAT32 partition.

Steps

1 Create a text file containing the following line of text: unlock where is typically the Admin username. The Admin account is always on the system and it has the required Administrator privileges to reset passwords.

2 Save the file and name it: unlock.phy

3 Copy the file to a MSDOS/FAT32 formatted USB drive.

4 Insert the USB drive into a port on the lead controller. When the media is recognized, System Manager allows the specified account to log on.

5 Log on to System Manager using the account specified on the USB drive. The password cannot be blank, but any text entered will be ignored.

6 Unlock locked accounts.

7 Reset passwords on accounts.

8 Remove the USB drive from the port.

Hope that helps!

Hello,

I've already tried all this, but I can't log in as Admin. What else can I try?

hmm actually this is the valid method. I'm pretty sure you already check all steps. I'm brainstorming. If we clear the controller's cache, this might resolve potential issues. I don't know directly reach to controller and clear cache but a simple power cycle of the storage system can sometimes clear temporary cache data. If it possible when you have downtime this action can be taken.

@staybox thank you for your feedback. 

Hi, will this method work on SC7020 as well? I can't login as "Admin" and I'm trying to reset the password. When the instructions said login as Admin and type random password, is it to be done via the Web Console (GUI) or via serial console (or command line interface)?

Hi,

This method work on SC7020, but I think it is only for Storage Center version 6.5 and later. Log in to Dell Storage Manager Client connecting to either the lead controller IP, or the Management IP. The password cannot be blank, but any text entered will be ignored. So just enter any characters, eg: mmm

After gaining access to the system reset the password on the account used to gain access. Select Edit Settings from the Summary Tab. Select Users and User Groups in the left side tab Highlight the user used to gain access to the system Select Change Password. Type anything in to the Authorization Password field, eg: mmm. Type in your new Password for the login selected

Hi Joey, thanks for your reply. I've tried this over the past days. I haven't been successful. Is rebooting the controller necessary? I'm thinking it is to clear any current cache and to maybe detect the unlock.phy file in the reboot process? I can serial into the controller via the serial port using Tera Term and can see the login prompt as well as the USB drive getting detected status as I plug in/out. My sc7020 doesn't have an iDRAC or a reset button. It was only done via Admin account in DSM. Now that I'm locked out of it, the only way to reboot it is by unplugging the power. That's bad for my entire environment as it takes down both controllers. I am not really wanting to do that.

Since I'm seeing the USB drive via serial connection, I was hopin this method should have worked. I initially had "unlock.phy.txt" but I figured it out and got to "unlock.phy" now. Tried 2GB USB in both FAT and FAT32. Also tried two other 32GB USBs with FAT32. Admin with a password like "mmm" just isn't letting me in. What am I missing here other than rebooting the controller? I used the serial connection, as well as via browser to management IP and controller IP directly.

Serial connection also requires the login to check or perform anything. How exactly do I reboot just one controller? Is there a way to tell which controller is active and which is standby without having any access? Since I have physical access with the serial connection, I was thinking I could bypass the Admin account requirement but I'm getting blocked by the same thing. Thanks for any insights. 

My environment is running normally but I can't login to make any changes. 

Hi,

You mentioned you can serial into the controller, it prompts for login but you are not able to login, right? Just to confirm, the file contains the strain word unlock Admin, right?

I don't think you need to reboot the storage, as the logins are prompted when trying to connect. There isn't any way to check lead controller nor reboot only 1 controller without CLI access. 

If you are still unable to access using the unlock procedure, perhaps I should suggest contacting support to obtain level 2 engineer intervention. 

@DELL-Joey C​ Yes, "unlock Admin" is the only line I have in the file. I'm aware that it's case sensitive. I know for sure that logging in with "admin" didn't work even when I had access. It had to be "Admin." I'm including a pic of Tera Term where you can see me unplugging a 2GB Lexar and a 32GB Patriot sticks. I was really optimistic I had found the solution! It looks like something the Dell support engineer would do. I'm curious why it didn't work. I guess I'll contact support if I had exhausted all the options I can try on my own.