SVR3 passwd changes mode of passwd file

[Tim J Ihde]

In article <3394 at dunkshot.mips.COM> dce at mips.COM (David Elliott) writes:
>
>It turns out that the System V (or at least SVR3) version of the
>passwd command will cause the resultant passwd file to be mode
>0444.
>
>David Elliott		dce at mips.com  or  {ames,prls,pyramid,decwrl}!mips!dce

This is not a bug.  You sure don't want anybody to be able to write to that
file (gives them root access in a hurry), and if you turn off read permission
LOTS of programs will not work right (like 'ls').  0444 is the proper mode for
/etc/passwd.

Your system is just the way it is supposed to be as of SVR3.  Eventually
the actual encoded password may get moved to another (non-readable) file,
but this is not currently the case.  Wait for R4.
-- 
Tim J Ihde					att!attdso!tim
(201) 898-6687					tim at attdso.att.com
This disclaimer intentionally left blank.  	attmail!tihde