Resetting Protections

Recovering from the accidental removal of all super users

PROBLEM

When the only super user listed in the protections table is deleted, switched to non-super user status, or forgets their password, it is no longer possible to properly administer the Perforce server.

SOLUTION

If the Perforce administrator has access to the machine running the Perforce server:

1. Move the "db.protect" file in your Perforce root to another directory.
   
   
2. Run p4 protect to create a new protections table.
   
   
3. Add a user as a super user.
   
   
4. While logged in as the newly created super user, enter p4 passwd to reset the old super user's password.
   
   
5. Delete the new "db.protect" and restore the original "db.protect" to the Perforce root directory.

Note:
Server versions 2007.2 and later no longer allow you to save protections without at least one super user protection. However, if the only super user's password has been misplaced this procedure allows you to reset their password.