---
sourceDocument: Yokohama Data and Automation
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/yokohama/integrate-applications

 Release :

    - yokohama

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Yokohama Data and Automation

ft:clusterId :

    - crint

bundleId :

    - crint

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Reset Linux User Password activity

# Reset Linux User Password activity {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Yokohama
* 
* Updated January 30, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

The Reset Linux User Password activity resets the password for a given
user on a Linux computer.
This activity requires that the user executing the command be able to run the
chpasswd command and, if expiring the password immediately, to run
chage with [MID Server privileged commands](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_PrivilegedCommandsForMIDServer&version=yokohama&pubname=yokohama-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US).

This activity replaces an SSH activity by the same name available
in releases prior to Istanbul. If you have a workflow created in a previous version that
uses the deprecated activity, your workflow will continue to work normally after upgrading
to Istanbul. However, all new workflows must use the custom version of this activity. This
activity was built with the [SSH activity template](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/cph19SpeA3KHzCMCI_11NQ#t_CreateAnSSHActivity "Create an activity that extracts data from a target host that uses the SSH network protocol."), which gives workflow administrators the ability to store
input and output variables in the [databus](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/o~S7yInfrSChmVOGsneqgw#t_ReuseDataInTheActivityDesigner "The Data tab in the Workflow Editor lists all custom activities used in the current workflow that produce data and displays that data for reuse in other custom activities.").

## Input variables

{#r_ResetLinuxUserPasswordActivity__table_a3q_xxz_zp__entry__2}

| Variable | Description |
|-|-|
| hostname | IP address of the target Linux machine. |
| user | Name of the user whose password is being reset. |
| password | New password set for this user. The password is a workflow variable that is encrypted either as a password2 field or by calling the encryption method of a <var class="keyword varname">Packages.com.glide.util.Encrypter</var> object. |
| force_change | Indicates if this password is temporary and to force the named user to change the password at login. |
[Table 1. Reset Linux User Password input variables]

{#r_ResetLinuxUserPasswordActivity__table_a3q_xxz_zp}

## Output variables

{#r_ResetLinuxUserPasswordActivity__table_gdr_pyj_3w__entry__2}

| Variable | Description |
|-|-|
| return_code | Indicates whether or not the user password reset action was successful. |
| error_message | Describes any error that occurred during password reset. If no error occurred, this value is null. |
[Table 2. Reset Linux User Password output variables]

{#r_ResetLinuxUserPasswordActivity__table_gdr_pyj_3w}

## Conditions

{#r_ResetLinuxUserPasswordActivity__table_og3_syj_3w__entry__2}

| Variable | Description |
|-|-|
| Success | Activity successfully changed specified user's password |
| Failure | Activity failed to change specified user's password. |
[Table 3. Reset Linux User Password conditions]

{#r_ResetLinuxUserPasswordActivity__table_og3_syj_3w}