Logging in as another user ...

Somtimes DBAs may want to log in as another user. Use the following mechanism to do this.

1. List all details for user by quering the DBA_USERS database view.

n205554@edrtst> select * from dba_users where username = 'OPS$N175442';

USERNAME USER_ID PASSWORD ACCOUNT_STATUS LOCK_DAT EXPIRY_D
------------------------------ ---------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------
DEFAULT_TABLESPACE TEMPORARY_TABLESPACE CREATED PROFILE INITIAL_RSRC_CONSUMER_
------------------------------ ------------------------------ -------- -----------------------------
EXTERNAL_NAME
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPS$N175442 394 23EFD25A727EF805 OPEN
USER_DAT01 TEMP01 10/04/03 DEFAULT DEFAULT_CONSUMER_GROUP

2. Change the password of the user shown in (1).

n205554@edrtst> alter user OPS$N175442 identified by geoff;

User altered.

3. Do whatever you need to do.

4. Change the password back by using the 'identified by values' keyword in the 'alter user' command. The string shown below was found in the password field of the dba_users view (see 1) before the password was changed.

n205554@edrtst> alter user OPS$N175442 identified by values '23EFD25A727EF805';

User altered.

Be very careful when using this as as you may be bypassing corporate security rules, depending on your organization.