01-11-2011
I agree with vbe. Sounds like a slave machine.
Some general advice not relevant to this post:
You should avoid using "vi" directly on the password file becase it does not maintain the password file lock or the password cache. Ensure that the user is not logged in and use "usermod" instead. As a last resort use "vipw" (a special version if "vi") if you really must edit the password file directly. Always copy the password file before any manual edits.
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VIPW(8) BSD System Manager's Manual VIPW(8)
NAME
vipw -- edit the password file
SYNOPSIS
vipw
DESCRIPTION
Vipw edits the password file after setting the appropriate locks, and does any necessary processing after the password file is unlocked. If
the password file is already locked for editing by another user, vipw will ask you to try again later. The default editor for vipw is vi(1).
Vipw performs a number of consistency checks on the password entries, and will not allow a password file with a ``mangled'' entry to be
installed. If vipw rejects the new password file, the user is prompted to re-enter the edit session.
Once the information has been verified, vipw uses pwd_mkdb(8) to update the user database. This is run in the background, and, at very large
sites could take several minutes. Until this update is completed, the password file is unavailable for other updates and the new information
is not available to programs.
ENVIRONMENT
If the following environment variable exists it will be utilized by vipw:
EDITOR The editor specified by the string EDITOR will be invoked instead of the default editor vi(1).
SEE ALSO
chpass(1), passwd(1), passwd(5), pwd_mkdb(8)
HISTORY
The vipw command appeared in 4.0BSD.
4th Berkeley Distribution June 6, 1993 4th Berkeley Distribution