Archived Forum

As far as I'm aware it's optional, but if you don't install it, you will not be able reset your emoncms password if you ever forget it (because it will not be able to email you the link). Also, any add-ons such as the event module would also not send email alerts (I use 'push' messaging anyway!).

Paul

Do you need email to reset emoncms password? surely you can just SSH into the box and edit files directly ?

Yes! correct.

By editing the MYSQL database, with a little work you can overwrite the password.

Paul

If, for some reason, you don't want to, or can't, edit the database directly, here's how to reset the emoncms MySQL password from the command line: (can be done locally, or via SSH)

Log on to MySQL as the MySQL root user
mysql -u root -p

Enter the MySQL root password, then issue the command:
SET PASSWORD FOR 'user-name-here'@'hostname-name-here' = PASSWORD('new-password-here');

Bill, we're talking about resetting the emoncms password, not the MYSQL root password.
See this post for resetting the emoncms password via editing MYSQL.

Paul

OK. Post updated with info on how to change the emoncms MySQL password...

Bill, sorry, we are still talking different passwords.

We are discussing the emoncms 'user' password - the one which you login to the ui, when accessing emoncms from a desktop, and not the MYSQL root or emoncms password.

The emoncms user password is stored in encrypted format in a MYSQL table, and is usually recovered by clicking 'forgot password' and swift mailer emails you a recovery link.

Paul

Right. I was working on a method of resetting that password (emoncms user) via the command line when I got sidetracked by some flash flooding we had last night and this morning. (had to go out and buy a pump and some hose)

Got it worked out. Here's how to reset the emoncms user password from the MySQL command line: (can be done locally, or via SSH)

N.B. This assumes your emoncms admin account user name, and your database, are both named emoncms. If not, substitute your admin account username where you see the emoncms username, and your database name where you see the emoncms database name.

Create a new user from the emoncms login screen. For this example, we'll give that user the name emontemp.
Take note of the password you gave the emontemp user.

run Mysql as the MySQL root user:
mysql -u root -p (you'll be prompted for the MySQL root user password)

Switch to your database. (Substitute your database name if it's not emoncms) issue the command:
use emoncms;

To copy emontemp's password to the emoncms user account, issue the command:
update users set password=(select * from (select password from users where username='emontemp') x) where username='emoncms';

To copy emontemp's password salt to the emoncms user account, issue the command:
update users set salt=(select * from (select salt from users where username='emontemp') x) where username='emoncms';

Time saver tip: The two commands are the same save for the words password and salt. After you issue the first command, hit the up arrow key, change the two instances of password to salt, hit enter.

That's it. You should be able to log on to your emoncms admin account with the password you gave emontemp.

Brilliant, thanks Bill. I've cut & pasted your advice and saved so if I ever need to do it I don't need to ask.... just waiting on my EmonPi now :-)