HOWTO: Disable complex password policy on Hyper-V Server 2008?
- by Ian Boyd
How do you disable the password complexity requirements on a Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2?
Keep in mind that when you log into the server, the only UI you have is:
And you cannot run gpedit.msc:
C:\Users\Administrator>gpedit.msc
'gpedit.msc' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
because there are no .msc snap-ins installed with Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2.
The problem comes when you're trying to add an account to the server, so you can manage it, but it doesn't like most passwords:
And, predictably, typing
NET HELPMSG 2245
gives you
The password does not meet the password policy requirements. Check the minimum p
assword length, password complexity and password history requirements.
i hoped it would have been a friendly user experience, and either:
offered to disable the password policy
tell me how to disable the password policy
tell me how to check the minimum password length, password complexity and password history requirements.
Password Complexity Requirements
The Microsoft's default password complexity for Server Core is:
Passwords cannot contain the user’s account name or parts of the user’s full name that exceed two consecutive characters.
Passwords must be at least six characters in length.
Passwords must contain characters from three of the following four categories:
1.English uppercase characters (A through Z).
2.English lowercase characters (a through z).
3.Base 10 digits (0 through 9).
4.Non-alphabetic characters (for example, !, $, #, %).
External links
Technet Forums: Hyper-V Server disable complex passwords
Technet: Passwords must meet complexity requirements of the installed password filter
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