Unix in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

Name

passwd

Synopsis

    passwd [options] [user]

Create or change a password associated with a user name. Only the owner or a privileged user may change a password. Owners need not specify their user name.

Solaris and GNU/Linux Privileged User Options

-d, --delete

Delete password; user is no longer prompted for one.

-f, --force

Force expiration of user’s password; user must change password at next login.

-l, --lock

Lock user’s password; mutually exclusive with -d and -u.

-ndays, --minimum=days

Set the minimum number of days that must pass before user can change his password.

-u, --unlock

Unlock user’s password; mutually exclusive with -l.

-wdays, --warning=days

Give user a warning beginning days days before his password is due to expire.

-xdays, --maximum=days

Set the number of days before the password expires. Use a value of -1 (minus one) to disable password aging, 0 to force expiration like -f.

Solaris Options

Normal users may change the so-called gecos information (user’s full name, office, etc.) and login shell when using NIS or NIS+; otherwise only privileged users may change the following:

-D domain

Use the passwd.org_dir database in the NIS+ domain domain, instead of in the local domain.

-e

Change the login shell.

-g

Change the gecos information.

-r db

Change the password in password database db, which is one of files, ldap, nis, or nisplus. Only a privileged user may use files.

-s

Display password information:

1. user name.

2. Password status (NP for no password, PS for password, LK for locked).

3. The last ...