Search code examples
linuxprocesschange-password

Linux - What happens to user's running processes when its password is changed?


On one server I have an application running as a non-root linux user. I forgot its password, so I was about to change it using root priviledges, but then I wondered if that could harm the application running with that user.

I looked online but I didn't find any answers to this. Does anything happens to the user's running processes when the user's password is changed?


Solution

  • tl;dr

    some testing did not cause any problems in a new user, it seems safe to change password without changing any access parameters.

    Steps:

    • Created a new user: testing
    useradd -d /home/testing -m -p testing1 testing
    
    • logged into 'testing' user in another terminal.
    • launched htop (accesses system resources and updates constantly).
    • changed password with passwd.
    • changed back to the testing terminal and everything was working fine.

    Caveat: Havent tested on any software where auth is required (ssh, pc etc...)