PWCONV

pwconv, pwunconv, grpconv, grpunconv ? convert to and from shadow passwords and groups.

pwconv
pwunconv
grpconv
grpunconv

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

pwconv creates shadow from passwd and an optionally existing shadow. pwunconv creates passwd from passwd and shadow and then removes shadow. grpconv creates gshadow from group and an optionally existing gshadow. grpunconv creates group from group and gshadow and then removes gshadow.

Each program acquires the necessary locks before conversion.

pwconv and grpconv are similiar. 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.

pwconv will use the values of PASS_MIN_DAYS, PASS_MAX_DAYS, and PASS_WARN_AGE from /etc/login.defs when adding new entries to /etc/shadow.

Likewise, pwunconv and grpunconv are similiar. 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 pwunconv. It will convert what it can.

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 pwck and grpck to correct any such errors before converting to or from shadow passwords or groups.

login.defs(5), pwck(8), grpck(8), shadowconfig(8)