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Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: docs/linux/sql-server-linux-custom-password-policy.md
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@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ description: Learn how to use a custom password policy for SQL logins with SQL S
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author: Madhumitatripathy
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ms.author: matripathy
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ms.reviewer: mikeray, randolphwest
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ms.date: 05/01/2025
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ms.date: 01/16/2026
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ms.service: sql
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ms.subservice: linux
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ms.topic: how-to
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This enforcement ensures that logins that use SQL Server authentication are secure.
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> [!NOTE]
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> Password policies are available on Windows. For more information, see [Password Policy](../relational-databases/security/password-policy.md).
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> Password policies are available on Windows. For more information, see [Password policy](../relational-databases/security/password-policy.md).
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## Custom policy settings
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Beginning with [!INCLUDE [sssql25-md](../includes/sssql25-md.md)] on Linux, you can set the following configuration parameters in the `mssql.conf` file to enforce a custom password policy.
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In [!INCLUDE [sssql25-md](../includes/sssql25-md.md)] and later versions on Linux, you can set the following configuration parameters in the `mssql.conf` file to enforce a custom password policy.
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| Configuration option | Description |
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| --- | --- |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordminimumlength`|Defines the minimum number of characters required for a password. The passwords can be up to 128 characters long. |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordhistorylength`|Determines the number of previous passwords that must be remembered. |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordminimumage`|Specifies the minimum duration a user must wait before changing their password again. |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordminimumlength`|Sets the minimum number of characters required for a password. Passwords can be up to 128 characters long. |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordhistorylength`|Sets the number of previous passwords that the system remembers. |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordminimumage`|Sets the minimum duration a user must wait before changing their password again. |
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|`passwordpolicy.passwordmaximumage`| Sets the maximum duration a password can be used before it must be changed. |
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> [!NOTE]
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> Currently, the `passwordminimumlength` can be set to fewer than eight characters. [!INCLUDE [password-complexity](includes/password-complexity.md)]
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> You can currently set the `passwordminimumlength` to fewer than eight characters. [!INCLUDE [password-complexity](includes/password-complexity.md)]
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There are two ways to configure custom password policies for SQL authentication logins in SQL Server on Linux:
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You can configure custom password policies for SQL authentication logins in SQL Server on Linux in two ways:
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-[Enforce custom password policy](#adutil) with **adutil**
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-[Manually configure the `mssql.conf` file](#manual) using the **mssql-conf** tool
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## Set custom password policy with adutil
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In environments where policy management is centralized in an Active Directory (AD) server, domain administrators can set and modify the password policy values in the AD server. Additionally, the Linux machine running SQL Server must also be part of the Windows domain.
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In environments where policy management is centralized in an Active Directory (AD) server, domain administrators set and modify the password policy values in the AD server. The Linux machine running SQL Server must also be part of the Windows domain.
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Use [adutil](sql-server-linux-ad-auth-adutil-introduction.md) to fetch the password policy from the AD server and write it to the `mssql.conf` file. This method offers the benefit of centralized management, and ensures consistent application of policies across the SQL Server environment.
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### Requirements for adutil
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1. Establish a Kerberos authenticated session
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1. Establish a Kerberos authenticated session:
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- Run `kinit` with `sudo` to obtain or renew the Kerberos ticket-granting ticket (TGT).
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- Run `kinit` with `sudo` to get or renew the Kerberos ticket-granting ticket (TGT).
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- Use a privileged account for the `kinit` command. The account needs to have permission to connect to the domain.
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- Use a privileged account for the `kinit` command. The account needs permission to connect to the domain.
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In the following example, replace `<user>` with an account with elevated privileges in the domain.
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In the following example, replace `<user>` with an account that has elevated privileges in the domain.
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```bash
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sudo kinit <user>@CONTOSO.COM
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sudo adutil updatepasswordpolicy
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```
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If the command is successful, you should see a similar message:
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If the command is successful, the output looks similar to the following example:
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```output
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Successfully updated password policy in mssqlconf.
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<aid="manual"></a>
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## Set custom password policy with mssql-conf manually
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## Manually set a custom password policy using mssql-conf
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You can set the SQL authentication login password policy by updating the parameters in the `mssql.conf` file with **mssql-conf**. This approach provides simplicity and direct control over the policy settings.
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Use this method when the Linux host that is running SQL Server isn't part of the domain, and there's no domain controller to get the password policies from.
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Use this method when the Linux host running SQL Server isn't part of the domain, and there's no domain controller to get the password policies from.
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Run the following **mssql-conf** commands to set each policy configuration property.
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1. Set the minimum password length to 14 characters, adhering to the complexity requirements outlined in the [Password Policy](../relational-databases/security/password-policy.md).
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1. Set the minimum password length to 14 characters, adhering to the complexity requirements outlined in the [Password policy](../relational-databases/security/password-policy.md).
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```bash
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sudo /opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf set passwordpolicy.passwordminimumlength 14
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sudo /opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf set passwordpolicy.passwordhistorylength 8
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```
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1. Set the maximum password age is set to 45 days. A user can use a password for up to 45 days before the user must change it.
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1. Set the maximum password age to 45 days. A user can use a password for up to 45 days before the user must change it.
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```bash
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sudo /opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf set passwordpolicy.passwordmaximumage 45
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After updating the group password policy in Active Directory, you must manually run the `adutil updatepasswordpolicy` command to update `mssql.conf`. This command doesn't run automatically. Ensure the Linux machine running SQL Server is part of the domain, or manually set it using **mssql-conf**.
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In Active Directory, each group-level password policy can be defined or undefined using a checkbox.
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In Active Directory, you can define or undefine each group-level password policy using a checkbox.
However, unchecking the policy doesn't disable it in SQL Server on Linux. To avoid applying the custom password policy, update the settings in **mssql-conf** instead of relying on the checkbox.
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