Replace password field using ed/sed - UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

munch · #1 (**permalink**) 04-27-2007

I need to edit the password file to change the password field to *LK* for a specified account (abctest) like:
abctest:*LK*:135:20::/home/abctest:/sbin/sh

Can anyone help me do this using ed or sed?

Thanks a lot!

reborg · #2 (**permalink**) 04-27-2007

If manipulating the passwd file directly I would suggest you use the safer alternative which is awk.

In this case however, why not just use the system provided command for doing this, usually the passwd or usermod commands have an option for locking accounts.

munch · #3 (**permalink**) 04-27-2007

I am using the password command for all supported systems except hp10.20 which has no command to lock the password.

How can it be done with awk?

Thanks

ghostdog74 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-27-2007

Code:

awk -F ":" 'BEGIN{OFS = ":"} /youruser/{$2="*LK*"}{ print}' /etc/passwd

please use at own risk.

munch · #5 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007

Thanks sooo much! I will be careful!

reborg · #6 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostdog74

Code:

awk -F ":" 'BEGIN{OFS = ":"} /youruser/{$2="*LK*"}{ print}' /etc/passwd

please use at own risk.

Actually you should not use this code, a partial match will result in locking the wrong user.

eg users: user2 and user23 projectuser234 , using user2 will lock all three.

Code:

awk  'BEGIN{IFS = OFS = ":"} $1 == "youruser" { $2 = "*LK*" } { print }' /etc/passwd

ghostdog74 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by reborg

Actually you should not use this code, a partial match will result in locking the wrong user.

eg users: user2 and user23 projectuser234 , using user2 will lock all three.

Code:

awk  'BEGIN{IFS = OFS = ":"} $1 == "youruser" { $2 = "*LK*" } { print }' /etc/passwd

ah yes.. i missed out that one, should be == instead. tks

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