pwconv

PWCONV(8)                                                            PWCONV(8)



NAME
       pwconv, pwunconv, grpconv, grpunconv - convert to and from shadow pass-
       words and groups.

SYNOPSIS
       pwconv
       pwunconv
       grpconv
       grpunconv

DESCRIPTION
       These four programs all operate on the normal and shadow  password  and
       group files: /etc/passwd, /etc/group, /etc/shadow, and /etc/gshadow.

       pwconv  creates  shadow  from passwd and an optionally existing shadow.
       pwunconv creates passwd from passwd and shadow and then removes shadow.
       grpconv  creates gshadow from group and an optionally existing gshadow.
       grpunconv creates  group  from  group  and  gshadow  and  then  removes
       gshadow.

       Each program acquires the necessary locks before conversion.

       pwconv  and  grpconv are similiar.  First, entries in the shadowed file
       which don't exist in the main file are removed.  Then, shadowed entries
       which don't have `x' as the password in the main file are updated.  Any
       missing shadowed entries are added.  Finally,  passwords  in  the  main
       file  are  replaced  with  `x'.  These programs can be used for initial
       conversion as well to update the shadowed file  if  the  main  file  is
       edited by hand.

       pwconv  will  use  the  values  of  PASS_MIN_DAYS,  PASS_MAX_DAYS,  and
       PASS_WARN_AGE  from  /etc/login.defs  when  adding   new   entries   to
       /etc/shadow.

       Likewise,  pwunconv  and grpunconv are similiar.  Passwords in the main
       file are updated from the shadowed file.  Entries which  exist  in  the
       main  file  but  not in the shadowed file are left alone.  Finally, the
       shadowed file is removed.

       Some password aging information is lost by pwunconv.  It  will  convert
       what it can.

BUGS
       Errors  in  the  password  or group files (such as invalid or duplicate
       entries) may cause these programs to loop  forever  or  fail  in  other
       strange  ways.   Please  run  pwck and grpck to correct any such errors
       before converting to or from shadow passwords or groups.

SEE ALSO
       login.defs(5), grpck(8), pwck(8)



                                  26 Sep 1997                        PWCONV(8)