Methods and systems for starting a node without a default password are provided. Exemplary methods include: creating a node responsive to indicia received from a user; checking for an existing keystore in the node; when no existing keystore is in the node: generating a seed password for a predefined user of the node; non-persistently providing the seed password to the user; creating an encrypted keystore in the node; and storing the seed password in the encrypted keystore; and allowing access to the node using the built-in user and seed password.