Documentation:Password Resets

=Password Resets= Note: If you became locked out of your account by the systems upgrade in late Summer of 2007, you may be able to migrate your old password.

We now have a semi-automated password reset service. To use it, log in to passwordreset@to.ugcs.caltech.edu with the password "ugcs_pwreset". It will then ask you a few questions to determine if it can help you reset your password.

For us to reset your password, we must first verify that you are really the owner of your account. There are several ways we can do this, in order from least to most annoying:
 * If you have a PGP public key on UGCS in your home dir, or there is a path of trust from any sysadmin to you, we may be able to reset based on that. We would need a message requesting a reset signed by that key, and would encrypt you a new password to that key.
 * If you have an email setup as as an mailAlternateAddress or mailForwardingAddress in ldap, we will send you a "cookie" of random numbers at that address. Reply to us with it from any address asking for an account reset and we will do so, emailing the new password to that address.
 * If you have a phone number on record, we can call it and give you a new password over it.
 * Arrange to meet a sysadmin in person. Bring photo identification; either your Caltech ID card or a state or federal ID. Bring both if the picture on your Caltech ID is no longer recognizable.
 * If you have an @alumni.caltech.edu address, we may be able to contact the Alumni Association and get them to verify your name and alumni account. Please use this only as a last resort.
 * If none of these methods work and/or you are unsure of what information we have available (IE, alternate emails, phone numbers, etc), please contact us for more information.