4.4BSD/usr/share/man/cat8/pwd_mkdb.0

PWD_MKDB(8)               BSD System Manager's Manual              PWD_MKDB(8)

NNAAMMEE
     ppwwdd__mmkkddbb - generate the password databases

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
     ppwwdd__mmkkddbb [--pp] _f_i_l_e

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
     PPwwdd__mmkkddbb creates db(3) style secure and insecure databases for the speci-
     fied file.  These databases are then installed into ``_/_e_t_c_/_s_p_w_d_._d_b'' and
     ``_/_e_t_c_/_p_w_d_._d_b'' respectively.  The file is installed into
     ``_/_e_t_c_/_m_a_s_t_e_r_._p_a_s_s_w_d''. The file must be in the correct format (see
     passwd(5)).  It is important to note that the format used in this system
     is different from the historic Version 7 style format.

     The options are as follows:

     --pp    Create a Version 7 style password file and install it into
           ``_/_e_t_c_/_p_a_s_s_w_d''.

     The two databases differ in that the secure version contains the user's
     encrypted password and the insecure version has an asterisk (``*'')

     The databases are used by the C library password routines (see
     getpwent(3)).

     PPwwdd__mmkkddbb exits zero on success, non-zero on failure.

FFIILLEESS
     /var/db/pwd.db                    The insecure password database file.
     /var/db/pwd.db.tmp                A temporary file.
     /var/db/spwd.db                   The secure password database file.
     /var/db/spwd.db.tmp               A temporary file.
     /etc/master.passwd                The current password file.
     /etc/passwd                       A Version 7 format password file.

BBUUGGSS
     Because of the necessity for atomic update of the password files,
     ppwwdd__mmkkddbb uses rename(2) to install them.  This, however, requires that
     the file specified on the command line live on the same file system as
     the ``_/_e_t_c'' directory.

     There are the obvious races with multiple people running ppwwdd__mmkkddbb on dif-
     ferent password files at the same time.  The front-ends to ppwwdd__mmkkddbb,
     chpass(1),  passwd(1) and vipw(8),  handle the locking necessary to avoid
     this problem.

CCOOMMPPAATTIIBBIILLIITTYY
     Previous versions of the system had a program similar to ppwwdd__mmkkddbb,
     mkpasswd(8),  which built dbm(3) style databases for the password file
     but depended on the calling programs to install them.  The program was
     renamed in order that previous users of the program not be surprised by
     the changes in functionality.

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
     chpass(1),  passwd(1),  db(3),  getpwent(3),  passwd(5),  vipw(8)

4.4BSD                           June 6, 1993                                1