How to Enable Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux (Simple Guide for Beginners)

• Introduction
• What Is Password Ageing?
• Why Enable Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux?
• How to Enable Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux
  • 1. Check Current Password Age Settings
  • 2. Set Maximum Password Age
  • 3. Set Minimum Password Age
  • 4. Set Warning Before Password Expiry
  • 5. Force Immediate Password Expiry
• Use Cases for Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux
• Final Thoughts

Introduction

Keeping passwords secure is super important. Imagine using the same weak password for years it makes your system vulnerable to hackers. That’s why password ageing exists; it forces users to change their passwords after a certain time.

If you're using Red Hat Linux, enabling password ageing helps improve security by making sure old passwords don’t stay forever. It’s easy to set up, and once done, it will remind users to change their passwords regularly.

Let’s break it down into simple steps, use cases, and commands you can use right away!

What Is Password Ageing?

Password ageing is a feature in Linux that controls how long a password can be used before it needs to be changed. It helps prevent security risks caused by outdated passwords.

With password ageing, you can set:

• Minimum days before users can change their password again.
• Maximum days before they MUST change their password.
• Warning period to notify users before expiry.

Why Enable Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux?

Password ageing is useful for:

✅ Improving Security: Regularly changing passwords makes it harder for hackers to gain access.

✅ Enforcing IT Policies: Many companies require users to change passwords every few months.

✅ Preventing Forgotten Passwords: If users have to change passwords regularly, they’re less likely to forget them.

How to Enable Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux

Linux allows system administrators to manage password ageing using the chage command. Here’s how you do it:

1. Check Current Password Age Settings

To see the password ageing settings for a specific user, use:

chage -l username

Replace username with the actual user’s name. This will show details like expiry date, warning period, and last password change.

2. Set Maximum Password Age

To force users to change passwords after a certain time (e.g., every 90 days), run:

sudo chage -M 90 username

Here, -M 90 means the password expires after 90 days.

3. Set Minimum Password Age

To prevent users from changing passwords too frequently (e.g., minimum 7 days between changes), use:

sudo chage -m 7 username

Here, -m 7 ensures users can't change passwords too often, preventing abuse.

4. Set Warning Before Password Expiry

To warn users 7 days before their password expires, run:

sudo chage -W 7 username

This gives users time to update their passwords before they get locked out.

5. Force Immediate Password Expiry

If you need a user to change their password immediately (e.g., after a security breach), run:

sudo chage -d 0 username

This sets the last password change date to 0, meaning the user must change their password the next time they log in.

Use Cases for Password Ageing in Red Hat Linux

🔹 Corporate Security: IT teams can enforce password changes every 60-90 days to ensure strong security policies.

🔹 Server Administration: Prevent server admins from using outdated credentials by setting password expiration rules.

🔹 Personal Use: If you share a system with others, enabling password ageing ensures everyone updates their passwords regularly.

Final Thoughts

Password ageing in Red Hat Linux is simple yet powerful for keeping systems secure. By setting password expiration rules, you make sure that weak or old passwords don’t stay active for too long.

If you manage a Linux server, work in IT, or just want better security on your system, enabling password ageing is a smart move.