Clarification on /etc/passwd file entry


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Top Forums UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers Clarification on /etc/passwd file entry
# 1  
Old 09-28-2007
Clarification on /etc/passwd file entry

Hi,

I am working on a UNIX AIX system and all the entries in /etc/passwd file are in the following format..

root:!:0:0::/:/usr/bin/ksh

I have an idea abt each field, but I am confused abt the values in the second field.

If the value of the second filed is 'x' then it means the password is stored in /etc/shadow file.

* means you cant login using this id in unix login prompt

but what does the value '!' means?

and I checked, there is no /etc/shadow file in the system, so where the password is stored.
# 2  
Old 09-28-2007
From the AIX documentation:
Code:
If a user ID has a password, then the password field will have an ! (exclamation point). If the user ID does not have a password, then the password field will have an * (asterisk). The encrypted passwords are stored in the /etc/security/passwd file.

# 3  
Old 09-28-2007
Thanks Man... That really helped
Can you post the URL for AIX documentation?
 
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

8 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Big problem: shell entry in /etc/passwd corrupted for user root

did a big mistake, changing root entry of /etc/passwd to root:x:0:0:root:/root:/usr/bin/tmux split-window -v \; attach as expected, now I can't login as root anymore. sudo ed /etc/passwd etc. doesn't work. Any idea? Use code tags to increase readability and follow the rules. (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: dodona
4 Replies

2. HP-UX

Sudo entry required to set permission similar to ROOT without using password (PASSWD) change optio

Hi All I had installed sudo in HP UX 11.3 and it is working fine but not able to make entry required to set permission similar to ROOT without using password (PASSWD) change option for define user in /etc/sudoers file Please help if some know the syntex? :confused::wall: (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: deviltech
2 Replies

3. AIX

When did AIX start using /etc/security/passwd instead of /etc/passwd to store encrypted passwords?

Does anyone know when AIX started using /etc/security/passwd instead of /etc/passwd to store encrypted passwords? (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: Anne Neville
1 Replies

4. Solaris

passwd cmd reenables passwd aging in shadow entry

Hi Folks, I have Solaris 10, latest release. We have passwd aging set in /etc/defalut/passwd. I have an account that passwd should never expire. Acheived by emptying associated users shadow file entries for passwd aging. When I reset the users passwd using passwd command, it re enables... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: BG_JrAdmin
3 Replies

5. UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

No entry in /etc/passwd

I could not find an entry for my linux user account in /etc/passwd file. I can remember some time back one of my SA showed the entry line using some other command. Can someone please help me on this to view the details of my linux user account? (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: apsprabhu
3 Replies

6. Linux

Cron ORPHAN (no passwd entry)

I am using the standard vixie-cron am seeing the following my logs : crond: (username) ORPHAN (no passwd entry) Ordinarily this is a simple matter, there is no corresponding user, but I am using central authentication and the username does exist and is usable via the standard nsswitch mechanism, so... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: humbletech99
2 Replies

7. Programming

Whant to write an entry in /etc/passwd (putpwent)

Hi i try to use the function putpwent to write a simple entry in "/etc/passwd" putpwnet returns 0 as it works but notething writes to /etc/passwd. What have i missed? My os -------- root@nighter-laptop:/home/nighter/labb# uname -a Linux nighter-laptop 2.6.22-14-generic #1 SMP Sun Oct 14... (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: nighter
5 Replies

8. Shell Programming and Scripting

Creating an entry for /etc/passwd

given an input file containing fields seperated by "," how do I retrieve information of these fields, do some work on them, then create a new input to the etc/passwd file? someone told me to look at the "sed" command but I still cant seem to get over this problem. I want to work on the data so... (8 Replies)
Discussion started by: sleepster
8 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question