bsd man page for vipw

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)