Changing RCE passwords

How do I change my password?

When you first are assigned an RCE account, you receive an email that directs you to set your password. You must log in, set a password, and complete the account contact form before you can use any HMDC server function.

This section describes in detail how to set your password and account contact information for an HMDC RCE account, HMDC CGIS account, or HMDC email account.

  1. If you have never set a password before and are activating a new RCE account, open the new RCE account email that was sent to you and click the link to set your password and activate your account.

  2. If you are changing a password, go to the HMDC Account Self Service web site and log in with your username and current password.

    HMDC Account Self Service will only change passwords for accounts that are authenticated. If you log in with your RCE account credentials, your RCE account password will be changed. If you log in with your CGIS account credentials, your CGIS account password will be changed. If you log in with your Mail account credentials, your Mail account password will be changed.

    The HMDC Account Self Service web site is displayed. Any terms followed by a ? can be defined by clicking the ?.

    The Account Access field displays the RCE cluster hostname to which you have access, if any.

  3. If you logged in to the HMDC Account Self Service web site with your HMDC RCE account username and password and your HMDC RCE account is not linked to an HMDC CGIS or Mail Account, then the Linkagessection is displayed. This allows you to "link" accounts by providing authentication information for a second account after authenticating your RCE account. When you create account linkages, a password change or contact information change will update all linked accounts simultaneously.

  4. You must complete the following contact information:

    • Contact Name - Make sure that your username is correct.

    • Office Location - Type an office room number in which you can be contacted.

    • Phone Number - Type a phone number at which you can be contacted.

    • Email Address - Make sure that your email address is correct.

  5. You must set your password.

    In the Enter Password and Retype Password fields, enter a new password that complies with the following guidelines:

    • Is between 8 and 15 characters

    • Does not include a term found in a standard dictionary

    • Has at least two numbers

    • Has at least two special characters

  6. Click Save Changes to enter your contact information and set your password.

    If you entered contact information and a new password that complies with the strong password guidelines, the message Modification successful: password changed. is displayed.

    If you do not enter a new password that complies with the guidelines, a Modification failed error message is displayed. You must enter a new password in both password fields, and then click Save Changes again.

  7. After you successfully set your password, you will automatically be logged out of the HMDC Account Self Service web site.

    If you are setting a password for the first time, you will receive two emails after you complete the set password process. First, you receive an automated account manager reply acknowledging that your password entry was successful. Second, you receive a new RCE account email acknowledging that you activated your RCE account. This email specifies the server hostname to use when you log in to the RCE, corresponding to the Account Access information in HMDC Account Self Service. Be sure to log in to the RCE using your new password.

You can change your contact information and password at any time by using the HMDC Account Self Service web site. Go to the following location:

https://help.hmdc.harvard.edu/account_manager