AIX 5.x - Enforcing Password Complexity

Note: This documentation is intended as a reference for server administrators only. If you are not sure you are running a server, please check with your local IT staff before following these recommendations.

The following settings contained in /etc/security/user on an AIX 5.x system can be used to define system password policy:

• minalpha = 4 <----sets the Minimum number of Alpha characters

• minother = 1 <----sets the Minimum number of Other characters

• minlen = 8 <----sets the Minimum length

• mindiff = 4 <----sets the Minimum number of different characters

• maxrepeats = 3 <--- A character may not repeat more than 3 times in a password

Further documentation can be found here: http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/doc_link/en_US/a_doc_lib/files/aixfiles/user.htm

UW-Madison's Password Policy can be found here: UW-Madison - IT - Password Policy