passwd(1) [bsd man page]

PASSWD(1)						      General Commands Manual							 PASSWD(1)

NAME

       passwd - change password file information

SYNOPSIS

       passwd [ user ]

DESCRIPTION

       Passwd  changes	the  user's password.  First, the user is prompted for their old password, and then, if that is correct, for the new pass-
       word.  The new password must be entered twice to forestall any typing errors.  The super-user is not prompted for the old password.

       Once the password has been verified, passwd uses mkpasswd(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
       password will not be available to programs.

FILES

       /etc/master.passwd	the user database

SEE ALSO

       chpass(1), login(1), passwd(5), mkpasswd(8), vipw(8)
       Robert Morris and Ken Thompson, UNIX password security

4th Berkeley Distribution					 February 22, 1989							 PASSWD(1)

VIPW(8) 						      System Manager's Manual							   VIPW(8)

NAME

       vipw - edit the password file

SYNOPSIS

       vipw

DESCRIPTION

       Vipw  edits  the  password file while setting the appropriate locks, and does any necessary processing after the password file is unlocked.
       If the password file is already being edited, then you will be told to try again later.	The vi editor will be used unless the  environment
       variable EDITOR indicates an alternate editor.

       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 mkpasswd(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 will not be available to programs.

SEE ALSO

       chpass(1), passwd(1), passwd(5), adduser(8), mkpasswd(8)

4th Berkeley Distribution					  March 11, 1989							   VIPW(8)