Bug 82541 - Procedure for changing passwords for new user account is inaccurate
Summary: Procedure for changing passwords for new user account is inaccurate
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED RAWHIDE
Alias: None
Product: Red Hat Linux
Classification: Retired
Component: rhl-sap
Version: 7.2
Hardware: All
OS: Linux
medium
medium
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Ed Bailey
QA Contact: Tammy Fox
URL: https://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2003-01-23 06:36 UTC by Karsten Wade
Modified: 2007-04-18 16:50 UTC (History)
0 users

Fixed In Version:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2003-02-21 17:06:43 UTC
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)
plain text "patch" for issue described (2.07 KB, text/plain)
2003-01-23 06:46 UTC, Karsten Wade
no flags Details

Description Karsten Wade 2003-01-23 06:36:12 UTC
Description of problem:

In the last section of the above page, New User Passwords, a method is described
which is technically inaccurate.  First are the actual issues, then a suggested fix.

Issues:

1. 'chage -d 0' should read 'chage -d 0 <username>'

2. '/usr/sbin/usermod -p "<password>"' should read '/usr/sbin/usermod -p
"<password>" <username>' -- the username should be appended, as in 1. above

3. '/usr/sbin/usermod -p "<password>" <username>' puts an unecrypted password in
/etc/shadow, and there will be no way to login (this effectively disables the
account).

When looking for a solution, it becomes obvious that /usr/bin/passwd would be a
better choice.  Also, leading people down the path of null passwords is risky
business, at best.

See follow-up for a plain text "patch".


Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open up the URL above
2. Read the paragraphs
3. 
    
Actual results:
Inaccurate technical information

Expected results:
Accurate technical information :)

Additional info:

Comment 1 Karsten Wade 2003-01-23 06:46:08 UTC
Created attachment 89545 [details]
plain text "patch" for issue described

This is a plain text suggestion for fixing this error.	This is the fix that I
propose to use in related documentation.

I can supply the actual markup used for this, but don't recommend using the
entire file as it is customized for another version of RHL and could therefore
contain other inaccuracies against RHL 8.0.

Comment 2 Ed Bailey 2003-02-21 17:06:43 UTC
These issues will be addressed in the next released version of the manual. 
Thanks for the feedback!


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