Oracle lost sysdba password

We are working with an oracle database in which the person that set it up is "long gone" and thus do not know the sysdba password, but need it. We have root access to the box (its on linux). Is there any way to recover or change the sys passwords?

From stackoverflow Adam Lerman

• Have you tried logging into Linux as your installed Oracle user then

  sqlplus "/ as sysdba"
  

  When you log in you'll be able to change your password.

  alter user sys identified by <new password>;
  

  Good luck :)

  Mark Nold : an addition... if you have root access but not the oracle user, login as root then "su - oracle" and follow Paul's instructions. Also try all the default oracle passwords. Last option is to look at OUTLN and DBSNMP accounts and Oracle hacks around that.

  Xolve : It helped me, the default passwords in oracle 11g didn't work out. Does this mean that oracle can be compromised easily.
  From Paul Hargreaves

• Do you have any other login credentials (non-sysdba) for that database? If so, this link may be helpful.

  From JosephStyons

• Thanks guys, I knew there was a way to do it as the oracle user but couldnt remember what it was. We got in and changed the sys password and are all set. Thanks for the quick responses!

  From Adam Lerman