Difference between : Locked User Account & Disabled User Accounts in Linux ?

avklinux · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2009

Thanks
AVKlinux

otheus · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009

I don't think these terms have official meanings in UNIX. One can disable an account in several ways: (1) replace the password field with "x", (2) set to 0 the day in /etc/shadow that indicates the password has expired, (3) replace the user's shell with /bin/false or a custom program which does not allow the user to do anything useful and is not in /etc/shells (4) remove the passwd (or shadow or both) entry for that user.

avklinux · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009

Otheus,

Thanks For ur reply.

-AVKlinux

Perderabo · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009

The Linux passwd command seems to draw a distinction. It has -l and -u to lock and unlock an account. It does this by adding a !! to the front of the encrypted password to lock, and removing that !! to unlock. There is a -d for disable and it replaces the encrypted password with just a !! and obviously this is not so easily reversible.

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
single user mode - user accounts passwords	orestis	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	3	02-02-2009 05:18 PM
need script for locked and unused user accounts in /export/home directory	krishna176	SUN Solaris	1	03-25-2007 02:45 PM
Locked out of Mandrake 9.1 user account	alarmcall	Linux	5	06-26-2004 01:38 PM
How to get user status(active,locked,retired, etc) reports on Sun, HP, OSF and Linux?	GAMO	UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users	3	01-28-2004 10:59 AM
[LINUX] Creating new user accounts	Arendo	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	3	11-18-2003 09:45 AM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:


	Powered by