What is a Password?

A password is a secret word that only you and CA ACF2 for VM know. Your password tells CA ACF2 for VM that you really are who you say you are. The difference between a logonid and a password is that any number of people can know your logonid, but only you know your password. It is between one and eight characters long.

While both CA ACF2 for VM and CA ACF2 for VM for z/OS support the special characters @, #, and $, these characters are special characters to VM. The # character is the default LINEND character. When this character is encountered in an input line, the line splits at that point. The @ is the default CHARDEL character. When this character is encountered in an input line, the previous character is deleted as if the @ was a destructive backspace. Because of this, do not use these two characters in a password that VM uses. The only way that you can use them is to place the ESCAPE character (by default, ") before the @ or #. The ESCAPE character causes the @ and # to be treated as standard characters instead of special characters.

CA ACF2 for VM never displays your password in clear form. Passwords are one‑way encrypted when you log on. If you forget your password at any time, no one can look it up for you. A security administrator must assign you a new password that CA ACF2 for VM forces you to change when you log on.