shadow/man/pwconv.8.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<refentry id='pwconv.8'>
  <!-- $Id$ -->
  <refmeta>
    <refentrytitle>pwconv</refentrytitle>
    <manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
    <refmiscinfo class="sectdesc">System Management Commands</refmiscinfo>
  </refmeta>
  <refnamediv id='name'>
    <refname>pwconv</refname>
    <refname>pwunconv</refname>
    <refname>grpconv</refname>
    <refname>grpunconv</refname>
    <refpurpose>convert to and from shadow passwords and groups</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv id='synopsis'>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>pwconv</command>
    </cmdsynopsis>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>pwunconv</command>
    </cmdsynopsis>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>grpconv</command>
    </cmdsynopsis>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>grpunconv</command>
    </cmdsynopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1 id='description'>
    <title>DESCRIPTION</title>
    <para>
      The <command>pwconv</command> command creates <emphasis
      remap='I'>shadow</emphasis> from <emphasis remap='I'>passwd</emphasis>
      and an optionally existing <emphasis remap='I'>shadow</emphasis>.
    </para>

    <para>
      The <command>pwunconv</command> command creates <emphasis
      remap='I'>passwd</emphasis> from <emphasis remap='I'>passwd</emphasis>
      and <emphasis remap='I'>shadow</emphasis> and then removes <emphasis
      remap='I'>shadow</emphasis>.
    </para>

    <para>
      The <command>grpconv</command> command creates <emphasis
      remap='I'>gshadow</emphasis> from <emphasis remap='I'>group</emphasis>
      and an optionally existing <emphasis remap='I'>gshadow</emphasis>.
    </para>

    <para>
      The <command>grpunconv</command> command creates <emphasis
      remap='I'>group</emphasis> from <emphasis remap='I'>group</emphasis>
      and <emphasis remap='I'>gshadow</emphasis> and then removes <emphasis
      remap='I'>gshadow</emphasis>.
    </para>

    <para>
      These four programs all operate on the normal and shadow password and
      group files: <filename>/etc/passwd</filename>,
      <filename>/etc/group</filename>, <filename>/etc/shadow</filename>, and
      <filename>/etc/gshadow</filename>.
    </para>

    <para>
      Each program acquires the necessary locks before conversion. 
      <command>pwconv</command> and <command>grpconv</command> are similar. 
      First, entries in the shadowed file which don't exist in the main file
      are removed. Then, shadowed entries which don't have `x' as the
      password in the main file are updated. Any missing shadowed entries
      are added. Finally, passwords in the main file are replaced with `x'. 
      These programs can be used for initial conversion as well to update
      the shadowed file if the main file is edited by hand.
    </para>

    <para>
      <command>pwconv</command> will use the values of <emphasis
      remap='I'>PASS_MIN_DAYS</emphasis>, <emphasis
      remap='I'>PASS_MAX_DAYS</emphasis>, and <emphasis
      remap='I'>PASS_WARN_AGE</emphasis> from
      <filename>/etc/login.defs</filename> when adding new entries to
      <filename>/etc/shadow</filename>.
    </para>

    <para>
      Likewise <command>pwunconv</command> and <command>grpunconv</command>
      are similar. Passwords in the main file are updated from the shadowed
      file. Entries which exist in the main file but not in the shadowed
      file are left alone. Finally, the shadowed file is removed. Some
      password aging information is lost by <command>pwunconv</command>. It
      will convert what it can.
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='bugs'>
    <title>BUGS</title>
    <para>
      Errors in the password or group files (such as invalid or duplicate
      entries) may cause these programs to loop forever or fail in other
      strange ways. Please run <command>pwck</command> and
      <command>grpck</command> to correct any such errors before converting
      to or from shadow passwords or groups.
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='files'>
    <title>FILES</title>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/login.defs</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>Shadow password suite configuration.</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='see_also'>
    <title>SEE ALSO</title>
    <para>
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>grpck</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>login.defs</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>pwck</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>.
    </para>
  </refsect1>
</refentry>