Account Authentication and Passwords for SMB Unix User accounts

SSH-key Authentication

We transitioned to SSH-key authentication in September 2025 for connections to the SMB Unix system, such as with the NX Client or for network data transfer. During your beamtime, you will still need to use your password to connect with Blu-ice from within the NX client to a specific beamline.

Important: SSH-key authenticiation must be setup on each computer accessing the crystallography beam line Unix system. Detailed instructions are located here.

SSH-keys replace the use of passwords for authentication. Therefore, we recommend that you periodically reivew the SSH-keys that have access to your account (see My Keys), and delete SSH-keys from older unused computers.

Password change on SSRL Macromolecular Crystallography Group computers

If you have a valid account on our UNIX computers, these instructions allows you to change your password for that account.

Note! If you are having trouble logging into the SMB unix computers, please contact SSRL Crystallography Group staff for help at PX_Accounts@SLAC.STANFORD.EDU.

Connect via NXClient or ssh to any of our servers (smbnxs1.slac.stanford.edu or smbnxs2.slac.stanford.edu)
Launch a terminal and run the ‘passwd’ command

Some basic sanity checks of the new password will be made to avoid using passwords that can be easily guessed. You might be prompted to try again. To pass the sanity checks the password has to fulfill the following criteria:

at least 8 characters in length
contain minium 3 out of 4 character classes, classes being:

lower case letters
upper case letters
numeric characters
symbols and sign characters

cannot contain a dictionary word
cannot significantly resemble your old password

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[Up] Remote Desktop Beamline Computers Account Request SSH Key Setup Guide Directories and File Permissions Data Backup, Access & File Transfer Printing	Account Authentication and Passwords for SMB Unix User accounts SSH-key Authentication We transitioned to SSH-key authentication in September 2025 for connections to the SMB Unix system, such as with the NX Client or for network data transfer. During your beamtime, you will still need to use your password to connect with Blu-ice from within the NX client to a specific beamline. Important: SSH-key authenticiation must be setup on each computer accessing the crystallography beam line Unix system. Detailed instructions are located here. SSH-keys replace the use of passwords for authentication. Therefore, we recommend that you periodically reivew the SSH-keys that have access to your account (see My Keys), and delete SSH-keys from older unused computers. Password change on SSRL Macromolecular Crystallography Group computers If you have a valid account on our UNIX computers, these instructions allows you to change your password for that account. Note! If you are having trouble logging into the SMB unix computers, please contact SSRL Crystallography Group staff for help at PX_Accounts@SLAC.STANFORD.EDU. Connect via NXClient or ssh to any of our servers (smbnxs1.slac.stanford.edu or smbnxs2.slac.stanford.edu) Launch a terminal and run the ‘passwd’ command Some basic sanity checks of the new password will be made to avoid using passwords that can be easily guessed. You might be prompted to try again. To pass the sanity checks the password has to fulfill the following criteria: at least 8 characters in length contain minium 3 out of 4 character classes, classes being: lower case letters upper case letters numeric characters symbols and sign characters cannot contain a dictionary word cannot significantly resemble your old password

	Technical questions: Webmaster Content questions: PX_Accounts@SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
	Last modified:Saturday, 06-Sep-2025 16:18:40 PDT.