Bugzilla – Bug 146533
Point out problems with special chars in root password in help text
Last modified: 2006-07-26 07:43:21 UTC
First the facts: usb drive was connected, while shutdown of the system is running, later removed booting again, the systems fails to startup for configuration reasions (suppose you call that Runlevel S) Then your first chance to enter something is the question for the root password. If the password consists of localised special chars, then there is no chance to enter them, because the localisation of the keyboard is a later step of the startup. A few ideas, what should be solved in 10.0 and later: - installation should have a question, what language to use in Level S or - chosen keyboard layout IS the localisation standard of level S - a bugfix should correct this in running systems You know the game of reality: Nobody thinks about this nore considers this at installation time. All people get aware of this at the moment, where it is too late :-( Though its not the best place, i risk a personal question: if this happens with a windows system, clever users could use scan codes (ALT-GR + digits), if they want to enter special chars. Is there a way under linux, to do the same?
AFAIK the question for the language is done. The handbook also states about what characters should be choosen for passwword and which characters should be avoided.
We keep getting bug reports where people demand we allow even more characters for passwords. We pointed out this exact problem dozens of times, but we were overruled. I don't have strong feelings towards this one way or the other, but somebody has to make a decision - and then we need to stick with that decision for some time. Andreas? Thorsten?
The problem is clearly the help text. The help text listed a lot of characters which are difficult to find if you don't have an english keyboard, but does not mention the problems using special characters. I'm in favor of changing the help text for passwords: Don't list "valid" characters, explain the customer what happens if he use characters not available with an english keyboard.
Jiri, Rebecca, please change the help text for the root password (and also for normal users?) to clearly point this out. But at this stage of the distribution this might be a candidate for LATER.
I'd need the current text to rewrite it. Later might be the best choice, but I will help now if Jiri wants to fix it now.
I'm for later (unless someone provides the text).
later
reopen yast2-users bugs
the discussion is done so far. Still I would state to add the information at the dialog, where the user creates the password. Don't forget the initial problem, that users learn too late about this fact ;-)
So, what would you say about this text? "For password, use only the letters that can be find on english keyboard, so you are able to log in even when the switch to your keyboard layout fails for some reason."
Hi Jiri, yes, the subject is met. Still i would prefer a stronger formulation, could look like this: Attention: Use only those letters for your password, that can be used with an english keyboard layout. Otherwise you might fail to login in an emergency situation.
How about something like this: "For the password, use only characters that can be found on an English keyboard layout. In cases of system error, it may be necessary to log in without a localized keyboard layout." I'm not too keen on "emergency situations" because that isn't very clear. Do you think this wording makes sense? Am I correct saying characters? My thought is that is also gives the user a hint about thinking about where other characters are located on the US layout as well.
Fixed in yast2-users-2.13.21