LOGIN — User Commands

NAME

SYNOPSIS

login [options] [user]

OPTIONS

−helpPrint a summary of the command-line options and exit without performing any logins.

−lDon’t record information about the user in a file of logins. The default is to record the login and logout in a file of logins used by programs like finger.

−P portNumUse portNum as the port number associated with this login in the file of logins (ignored if the −l option is given).

−rRepeat: when a login shell exits, prompt for another account and password, and start another login shell. The default is for login to exit as soon as its login shell exits.

−d deviceUse device for the login rather than the current tty.

DESCRIPTION

If an extra argument is given, login uses that name as the name of the user to log in. Otherwise, it prompts for an account name. In either case, login prompts for a password. If the password matches the account, the user is logged in and a command shell is run for the user. Information about the account, password, home directory, and login shell is taken from /etc/passwd. If the password does not match the account, or the account doesn’t exist, login will prompt for a new account and password.

If device is given, then login attempts to use it for the standard input, standard output, and standard error channels associated with the login. If no device is given, then login uses the standard I/O channels provided to it by the shell.

Normally, login waits for the login shell to exit, which signals the end of the login session, and then login exits. If, however, the −r switch is given, then login will repeat itself, asking for another account and password, and running another login shell. This will repeat indefinitely. If the repeat switch is not given, logins will time out after 60 seconds if they are not completed.

If the −l switch isn’t given, then login will record information about the login and logout in a file for use by programs like Finger. The −P switch is used to indicate which of several ports to associate with the login. If −l is given, then no login information is recorded.

KEYWORDS

account, login, password, user