scripting a root password change

[Handruin]

Anyone have any thoughts for a way to automate a one-time change to make a user account (specifically root) to a specified password? I know the "passwd" command, but I can't get it to enter the password twice into the command. A crude way (or thought) is to copy the shadow file over, but I don't know if that will work.

I'm building a virtual appliance and I need a way to script it so that it can be set to a password of my choosing the first time the Linux system is booted.

 

[Mercutio]

That sounds ugly and potentially dangerous.

 

[Handruin]

We need a default password for appliances when they are shipped. The user will have to change it after it boots.

 

[Fushigi]

NIST: look under Total Automation.

 

[Handruin]

Thanks for the help, but I found a much simpler solution from a coworker:

echo changeme | passwd --stdin root