Reset the SYSTEM User Password of the System Database

If the password of the SYSTEM user of the system database is lost, you can reset it as the operating system administrator by starting the name server in emergency mode.

Prerequisites

• You cannot log on to the database as the SYSTEM because the password has been irretrievably lost.
  NoteIf you can log on as SYSTEM and you want to change the password, do not use the procedure described here. Use the SAP HANA studio or execute the ALTER USER SQL statement directly: ALTER USER SYSTEM PASSWORD <new_password>.
• You have the credentials of the operating system administrator (<sid>adm).

Procedure

1. Log on to the server on which the name server of the system database is running as the operating system user (that is, <sid>adm user).
2. Open a command line interface.
3. Shut down the instance by executing the following command:
   /usr/sap/<SID>/HDB<instance>/exe/sapcontrol -nr <instance> -function StopSystem HDB
4. In a new session, start the name server of the system database by executing the following commands:
   • /usr/sap/<SID>/HDB<instance>/hdbenv.sh
   • /usr/sap/<SID>/HDB<instance>/exe/hdbnameserver -resetUserSystem
   After some start-up notifications, the prompt resetting of user SYSTEM - new password appears, followed by additional notifications:

   

   Reset SYSTEM User Password (System Database)
5. After the appearance of the last notification, enter a new password for the SYSTEM user.
   You must enter a password that complies with the password policy configured for the system.
   The password for the SYSTEM user of the system database is reset and the name server stops.
6. In a new session, start the instance by executing the following command:
   /usr/sap/<SID>/HDB<instance>/exe/sapcontrol -nr <instance> -function StartSystem HDB

Results

The password of the SYSTEM user of the system database is reset. You have to change the new password the next time you log on with this user.

If you previously deactivated the SYSTEM user, it is now also reactivated. This means you will need to deactivate it again.