Updating User Passwords
The passwd command is used to update a user’s password.
- Users can change their own passwords.
- The root user can change any user’s password.
Syntax : passwd [OPTIONS] [USER]
Change Own Password
View Password Status
Output Fields:
| Field | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| User Name | sysadmin | Name of the user |
| Password Status | P | P indicates a usable password. L indicates a locked password. NP indicates no password. |
| Change Date | 12/09/2015 | Last password change date |
| Minimum | 0 | Min days before password can be changed |
| Maximum | 99999 | Max days before password expires |
| Warn | 7 | Days before expiry to warn user |
| Inactive | -1 | Days account remains active after expiry |
Managing Password Aging
The chage command manages password aging using information from /etc/shadow.
Common Options
| Short Option | Long Option | Description |
|---|---|---|
-l |
--list |
Show account aging info |
-d LAST_DAY |
--lastday LAST_DAY |
Set last password change date |
-E EXPIRE_DATE |
--expiredate EXPIRE_DATE |
Set account expiration date |
-h |
--help |
Display help |
-I INACTIVE |
--inactive INACTIVE |
Days allowed to login after password expires |
-m MIN_DAYS |
--mindays MIN_DAYS |
Minimum days before password can change |
-M MAX_DAYS |
--maxdays MAX_DAYS |
Maximum days before password must change |
-W WARN_DAYS |
--warndays WARN_DAYS |
Days before expiration to warn user |