passwd file maint utilities - shadowing

[Philip A. Gross]

aland at infmx.UUCP (Dr. Scump) writes:

>Several questions related to the shadow passwd file (/etc/shadow):

>1) which versions of UNIX use it by default?  With which version did
>   shadowing begin - SVR2?  SVR3?  SVR3 Rel 3.2 ?  other?  Is it
>   the same for AT&T and other System V vendors?

SVR3.2

>2) with those versions which use shadowing by default -- can it be
>   turned "off" just by removing /etc/shadow and restoring passwords
>   to /etc/passwd?

yes

>3) do shadowing UNIX versions all use the same utilities?  The only
>   ones that I am familiar with are AT&T's (adduser, deluser, passmgmt).
>   Do the other vendors use the same utility names and parameter usage?

The passmgmt command under SVR3.2 takes care of both the passwd and
shadow files.  Until SVR3.2, I simply edited the /etc/passwd file to
perform the administration, but now that we are using the /etc/shadow
file as well, it is perhaps easier to use the passmgmt command then
it is to edit the two files.  As far as what other vendors use to
manage the /etc/passwd file, I am not sure.

>4) also, is there a way to *set* a passwd from a script?  /bin/passwd
>   seems to insist on interactive use.  I can remove a passwd (via
>   /bin/passwd -d username) but not set one, as far as I can see.
>   I checked everywhere in TFM that I can think of.

You are correct.  To the best of my knowledge, the /bin/passwd command
is the only tool available for setting user passwords and it requires
user interaction.  I suppose that if you could figure out what the
/bin/passwd command uses as its encryption key, you could write a 'C'
program to handle this need.

===============================================================================
Philip A. Gross       The Computer Solution Co., Inc.       Voice: 804-794-3491
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET:	pag at tcsc3b2.tcsc.com
USENET:		...!tcsc3b2!pag
UUCP:		tcsc3b2!pag	(804)794-1514
ATTMAIL:	attmail!tcsc3b2!pag
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        The opinions expressed here are strictly mine and nobody elses.
        << I haven't heard what I have to say about that yet. >> :-)
-- 
===============================================================================
Philip A. Gross       The Computer Solution Co., Inc.       Voice: 804-794-3491
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET:	pag at tcsc3b2.tcsc.com