Passwd is a package in Linux that is used to create or update passwords for existing users. It is a command-line tool that allows users to change their passwords or update the passwords of other users, provided they have the necessary permissions.
The passwd package is an essential part of any Linux distribution as it ensures the security of user accounts by allowing users to set strong passwords and regularly update them. It is used in various scenarios, such as when a user forgets their password and needs to reset it, or when a system administrator needs to update the passwords of multiple users.
The passwd package is written in the C programming language and is typically included as part of the core utilities in a Linux distribution.
Official page of passwd
The official page of passwd can be found at the following link: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/passwd.1.html
Installation
The passwd package is usually pre-installed on most Linux distributions. However, if it is not installed, it can be easily installed using the package manager of the respective distribution.
Installing passwd on Ubuntu/Debian
To install passwd on Ubuntu or Debian, open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt-get install passwd
Installing passwd on CentOS/RHEL
To install passwd on CentOS or RHEL, open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo yum install passwd
Common passwd commands
Here are some common passwd commands along with their descriptions:
1. passwd
The passwd command without any options is used to change the password of the current user. It prompts the user to enter their current password and then enter a new password.
2. passwd [username]
The passwd command followed by a username is used to change the password of a specific user. It prompts the user to enter the current password of the specified user and then enter a new password.
3. passwd -l [username]
The passwd command with the -l option followed by a username is used to lock the password of a specific user. This means that the user will not be able to log in using their password.
4. passwd -u [username]
The passwd command with the -u option followed by a username is used to unlock the password of a specific user. This allows the user to log in using their password again.
5. passwd -d [username]
The passwd command with the -d option followed by a username is used to delete the password of a specific user. This means that the user will be able to log in without entering a password.
Similar packages
There are several similar packages to passwd that serve the same purpose of creating or updating passwords for existing users. Some of these packages include:
- chpasswd: This package is used to update passwords in batch mode by reading a file containing username and password pairs.
- usermod: This package is used to modify user account settings, including the password.
- chage: This package is used to change the password expiry information for a user.
Example scripts
Here are three example scripts that demonstrate the usage of the passwd package in automation:
1. Script to change password for multiple users
#!/bin/bash
users=("user1" "user2" "user3")
for user in "${users[@]}"
do
echo "Changing password for $user"
passwd $user
done
This script prompts the user to enter a new password for each user specified in the array.
2. Script to lock user accounts
#!/bin/bash
users=("user1" "user2" "user3")
for user in "${users[@]}"
do
echo "Locking account for $user"
passwd -l $user
done
This script locks the password for each user specified in the array, preventing them from logging in using their password.
3. Script to unlock user accounts
#!/bin/bash
users=("user1" "user2" "user3")
for user in "${users[@]}"
do
echo "Unlocking account for $user"
passwd -u $user
done
This script unlocks the password for each user specified in the array, allowing them to log in using their password again.
List of passwd functions and constants
| Function/Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| passwd | Change the password of the current user |
| passwd [username] | Change the password of a specific user |
| passwd -l [username] | Lock the password of a specific user |
| passwd -u [username] | Unlock the password of a specific user |
| passwd -d [username] | Delete the password of a specific user |
Conclusion
The passwd package is an essential tool in Linux that allows users to create or update passwords for existing users. It is used in various scenarios, such as when a user forgets their password or when a system administrator needs to update passwords for multiple users. The passwd package is written in C and is typically included as part of the core utilities in a Linux distribution. It provides a set of commands that can be used to change, lock, unlock, or delete passwords for users. The passwd package is widely used by system administrators and regular users alike to ensure the security of their accounts and protect against unauthorized access.
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