Solaris :regarding /etc/shadow file


 
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Operating Systems Solaris Solaris :regarding /etc/shadow file
# 1  
Old 09-29-2011
Solaris :regarding /etc/shadow file

what does the last column in /etc/shadow file indicate??

i read man page,it tells its FLAG..but i am not able to understand exactly why its there Smilie

thanks in advance,

shekhar
# 2  
Old 09-29-2011
Code:
RaNdOmUsEr:no_that_not_a_password:0:7:91:7:::3

Are you talking about the one that increments each times there is a failed login? (the one with a 3 in my example).
# 3  
Old 09-29-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by plmachiavel
Code:
RaNdOmUsEr:no_that_not_a_password:0:7:91:7:::3

Are you talking about the one that increments each times there is a failed login? (the one with a 3 in my example).
ya thats what i meant but why its written there in man page " flag Failed login count in low order four bits; remainder
reserved for future use, set to zero "....what does it mean?
# 4  
Old 09-29-2011
Interesting enough ... Here is my "guess".

I traduce low order four by “the least important bites” or “the ones on the right” as opposed to high order ones. Let's say I have the following:

01010001010010

The low order four would be 0010 (2).

I believe that the fields probably have a certain maximum length (integer?) and they decided to use only the last 4.

I tested and the counter stops at 15 so it really seems to be using only the last four bits, wathever data type it uses.

"flag" entry in /etc/shadow through history:

Solaris8 man:
Last change: 10 Dec 1991
Reserved for future use, set to zero. Currently not used.

Solaris 9 man:
Last change: 12 Sep 2002
Reserved for future use, set to zero. Currently not used.

Solaris 10 man:
Last change: 15 Sep 2005
Failed login count in low order four bits; remainder reserved for future use, set to zero.
This User Gave Thanks to plmachiavel For This Post:
# 5  
Old 09-29-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by plmachiavel
Interesting enough ... Here is my "guess".

I traduce low order four by “the least important bites” or “the ones on the right” as opposed to high order ones. Let's say I have the following:

01010001010010

The low order four would be 0010 (2).

I believe that the fields probably have a certain maximum length (integer?) and they decided to use only the last 4.

I tested and the counter stops at 15 so it really seems to be using only the last four bits, wathever data type it uses.

"flag" entry in /etc/shadow through history:

Solaris8 man:
Last change: 10 Dec 1991
Reserved for future use, set to zero. Currently not used.

Solaris 9 man:
Last change: 12 Sep 2002
Reserved for future use, set to zero. Currently not used.

Solaris 10 man:
Last change: 15 Sep 2005
Failed login count in low order four bits; remainder reserved for future use, set to zero.

oh k..great..got it now..thanx a lotSmilieSmilie
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