NAME

lckpwdf(), ulckpwdf() − control access to /etc/passwd file

SYNOPSIS

#include <shadow.h>
int lckpwdf (void)
int ulckpwdf (void)

DESCRIPTION

The lckpwdf() and ulckpwdf() routines are used to coordinate modification access to the password file /etc/passwd and to the secure password entries.  The lock file used by these two routines is /etc/.pwd.lock.  A process first calls lckpwdf() to gain exclusive access rights for password modification.  When modifications are complete, ulckpwdf() is called to release the lock on /etc/.pwd.lock.  This mechanism prevents simultaneous modification of password files or entries. 

RETURN VALUE

The lckpwdf() routine returns zero upon successful completion.  If the lock could not be obtained, it returns −1 and sets errno to indicate the error. 

The ulckpwdf() routine returns zero upon successful completion.  If the lock has already been released, ulckpwdf() returns −1 and sets errno to indicate the error. 

FILES

/etc/passwd
/etc/.pwd.lock

SEE ALSO

getpwent(3C), passwd(4). 
 
 
 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  HP-UX Release 10.20:  July 1996