NAME

vipw − edit the password file with vi

SYNOPSIS

vipw

DESCRIPTION

Vipw edits the password file while setting the appropriate locks, and does any necessary processing after the password file is unlocked.  If the password file is already being edited, then you will be told to try again later

SEE ALSO

chfn(1), chsh(1), passwd(1), passwd(5), adduser(8)

FILES

/etc/vipw.lock

BUGS

Vipw does not remove the vipw.lock file; this is not a bug, but people tend to think it is. 

No one deals with left-over /etc/ptmp (the real lock) files after a system crash. 

th Berkeley Distribution