# Solaris (sparc and i86) error while password change

**URL:** <https://discourse.chef.io/t/solaris-sparc-and-i86-error-while-password-change/5521>\
**Category:** Chef Infra (archive)\
**Created:** [July 15, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/solaris-sparc-and-i86-error-while-password-change/5521 "2014-07-15T18:21:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![karthik\_kumar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@karthik\_kumar](https://discourse.chef.io/u/karthik_kumar)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/solaris-sparc-and-i86-error-while-password-change/5521/1 "2014-07-15T18:21:29Z")

</div>

Hi,  
My recipe to update root password,

user ‘root’ do

```
password '$1$xRttNfmg$kiGAjD0nRQkFXyE5432ci'

```

end

throws this error, _BUT /etc/shadow file is updated properly_

chef-solo -c client.rb -j runlist.json

Starting Chef Client, version 11.12.8

Compiling Cookbooks…

Converging 1 resources

Recipe: base::default

- user[root] action create (up to date)

================================================================================

Error executing action `create` on resource ‘user[root]’

================================================================================

…

Ran [“usermod”, “root”] returned 2

[2014-07-15T11:01:20-07:00] FATAL: Chef::Exceptions::ChildConvergeError:  
Chef run process exited unsuccessfully (exit code 1)

checking the code,  
chef-11.12.8/lib/chef/provider/user/solaris.rb

def manage\_user

```
manage_password -> write_shadow_file *# WORKS GOOD*

*super*
*# parent's shell_out fails*

```

end

chef-11.12.8/lib/chef/provider/user/useradd.rb

def manage\_user

…

```
shell_out!(*command) *#

```

command CONTAINS [“usermod”, “root”] fails with return code non-zero\*

end

I think this is same as

[https://tickets.opscode.com/browse/CHEF-1707](https://tickets.opscode.com/browse/CHEF-1707)

and it says Resolution:Fixed,

Can somebody advice if I am doing anything wrong ? Is there a workaround  
for this ? should I write lwrp/provider of my own ? Please advice.