Re: System passwords -- Thank you, messrs. Carpenter and Landess

<snip>
Given this is now ancient stuff, IBM should just publish the algorithm and
be done with it.  8 years when I called to request a passwordit took them a
while to figure out how generate it for me.  Simply a waste of everyone's
time.
</snip>

The system passwords are still used, and needed.  Mainly in the used
machine market where a serial number will change hands.  IBM attempts to
keep track of who is using its licensed property partly in this way.

When you buy your new machine, there will be a paper with the system
password on it in the paperwork.  Easy to find when the system comes
without SLIC and i5 OS on it, but with preloaded machines they bury it.
It's one of the more important pieces of paper they send.

Jim Oberholtzer