Password Help

How to Change Your COE / ECE Password

There are several ways you can change your password on the COE / ECE system.

If you have forgotten your password, get your COE password reset here. If you do not like that password or simply want to change your current COE password, you can change it at any time following the instructions below.

If you’re off campus, connect to the VPN first. Wherever you see coeusername in these instructions, type your own COE username. If you do not know your COE username, contact coehelp@northeastern.edu.

  1. Log in to the gateway.

Open a terminal (Command Prompt or MobaXterm on Windows, Terminal on Mac/Linux). Log in with SSH:

ssh coeusername@gateway.coe.neu.edu

If it asks “Are you sure you want to continue connecting?”, type yes and press Enter. Enter your current password when asked. Nothing appears on screen as you type, which is normal.

2. Change your password (scroll down to How to Choose a Strong Password for password requirements). 

At the prompt, run:

passwd

Enter your current password once, then your new password twice. When you see the success message, your password has been changed.

3. Log out.

To disconnect from the gateway, run:

logout

(exit also works.)

If you have forgotten your COE username

If you have forgotten your COE username, send an email to coehelp@northeastern.edu and include in the message your Name and NUID.

How to Choose a Strong Password

Complexity Requirements

To comply with University rules and protect your account and our computer system, your COE and ECE passwords must meet minimum complexity requirements.

Your password must:

  • have at least 15 characters
  • include at least one UPPERCASE letter, one lowercase letter, one numeral, and one special character (see below)
  • NOT include any part of your name or username
  • NOT include common words like Husky, RedSox, etc., or the current year
  • You may use any of the following special characters: @ % – _ +

Tips for choosing a password you can remember

Here is one way to pick a password that is easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess. Think of a phrase, such as the first line of a song. Take a few letters (eg, the important consonants) of each word in your phrase. Work in a numeral or two and mix up the CapitaLizatioN. Now the password will look like a random string of characters, but you can remember it by saying the phrase to yourself.

Example phrase: Take me out to the ball game

Resulting password: Tkmeo2tBallgm

Please don’t use this exact password! Choose your own favorite song or phrase.