OSF

NAME

mkpasswd − Creates a version of the basic user database organized for efficient searches

SYNOPSIS

/usr/sbin/mkpasswd −v passwdfile

DESCRIPTION

The mkpasswd command creates an auxiliary version of the basic user database in a form organized for efficient searches by the getpwuid subroutine and the getpwnam subroutine.  The mkpasswd command reads the user attributes in the /etc/passwd file and creates a hashed password database in the /etc/passwd.dir and /etc/passwd.pag files (see ndbm(3) function in the OSF/1 Programmer’s Reference). 

If you specify a file other than /etc/password, the command reads the user attributes in that file and creates a hashed password database in the passwdfile.dir and passwdfile.pag files. It is important to know that the password file you designate be in password file format (see the passwd(4) function in the OSF/1 Programmer’s Reference). 

Note that if you use the vipw command to edit a password file, you do not need to use the mkpasswd command.  This is because the vipw command automatically invokes the mkpasswd command which in turn creates the /etc/passwd.dir and /etc/passwd.pag files. 

Only the root user should have execute access to this command. 

Files Accessed:

ModeFile

r/etc/passwd

rw/etc/passwd.pag

rw/etc/passwd.dir

rwpasswdfile

rwpasswdfile.pag

rwpasswdfile.dir

FLAGS

−v Specifies that each stored entry be listed on standard output

EXAMPLES

If you have not used vipw to edit the /etc/passwd and wish to generate a hashed password database, enter the following:

mkpasswd −v /etc/passwd

An auxiliary version of the basic user database (/etc/passwd.dir and /etc/passwd.pag files) is created with a hashing algorithm. 

RETURN VALUES

The mkpasswd command exits with a nonzero exit code if any errors are detected. 

ERRORS

If the mkpasswd request is not successful, the following error message is displayed:

File exists
The passwdfile.dir and passwdfile.pag files already exist from a previous execution of the same mkpasswd command. 

FILES

/usr/sbin/mkpasswd
Specifies the command path

RELATED INFORMATION

Command: /usr/sbin/vipw(8)