PASSWD(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual PASSWD(1) NNAAMMEE chfn, chsh, passwd - change password file information SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS ppaasssswwdd [ --ff ] [ --ss ] [ name ] DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN This command changes (or installs) a password, login shell (--ss option), or GECOS information field (--ff option) associ- ated with the user _n_a_m_e (your own name by default). When altering a password, the program prompts for the current password and then for the new one. The caller must supply both. The new password must be typed twice to fore- stall mistakes. New passwords must be at least four characters long if they use a sufficiently rich alphabet and at least six characters long if monocase. These rules are relaxed if you are insistent enough. Only the owner of the name or the super-user may change a password; the owner must prove he knows the old password. When altering a login shell, _p_a_s_s_w_d displays the current login shell and then prompts for the new one. The new login shell must be one of the approved shells listed in /_e_t_c/_s_h_e_l_l_s unless you are the super-user. If /_e_t_c/_s_h_e_l_l_s does not exist, the only shells that may be specified are /_b_i_n/_s_h and /_b_i_n/_c_s_h. The super-user may change anyone's login shell; normal users may only change their own login shell. When altering the GECOS information field, _p_a_s_s_w_d displays the current information, broken into fields, as interpreted by the _f_i_n_g_e_r(1) program, among others, and prompts for new values. These fields include a user's ``real life'' name, office room number, office phone number, and home phone number. Included in each prompt is a default value, which is enclosed between brackets. The default value is accepted simply by typing a carriage return. To enter a blank field, the word ``none'' may be typed. Below is a sample run: NNaammee [[BBiiffff SSttuuddsswwoorrtthh IIII]]:: RRoooomm nnuummbbeerr ((EExxss:: 559977EE oorr 119977CC)) [[]]:: 521E OOffffiiccee PPhhoonnee ((EExx:: 11663322)) [[]]:: 1863 HHoommee PPhhoonnee ((EExx:: 998877553322)) [[55777711554466]]:: none _P_a_s_s_w_d allows phone numbers to be entered with or without hyphens. It is a good idea to run _f_i_n_g_e_r after changing the Printed 7/9/88 June 5, 1986 1 PASSWD(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual PASSWD(1) GECOS information to make sure everything is setup properly. The super-user may change anyone's GECOS information; normal users may only change their own. FFIILLEESS /etc/passwd The file containing all of this information /etc/shells The list of approved shells SSEEEE AALLSSOO login(1), finger(1), passwd(5), crypt(3) Robert Morris and Ken Thompson, _U_N_I_X _p_a_s_s_w_o_r_d _s_e_c_u_r_i_t_y Printed 7/9/88 June 5, 1986 2