LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Darryl Ross <darryl@bachblue.com.au>
  To  : LinuxSA <linuxsa@linuxsa.org.au>
  Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:57:08 +1030

/etc/passwd

Hey All,

I'm in the planning stages of writing a C program that I am going to set up
as a CGI script and set it up so that I can add, delete and modify users on
my RH5.2 system using a web interface and forms. As I see it, I have two
options for doing this. Getting my program to directly open the /etc/passwd
file and make the modifications, or get my program to call the useradd,
userdel or usermod programs as required and pass the arguments to that to
make the changes.

My problem with the first option is that I have no idea how the passwords
are stored in the file, i.e. the "encryption" algorithm. I heard its not too
strong. Is there somewhere I can read up so I can find out more about it? I
don't really like this option though anyway, cos if my program stuffs up,
then it might lose all the user information on the system. Anyone know where
I can get info for finding this out?  I know there are programs that do what
I want, but I want the satisfaction of making it myself :)

I might write a program and see if I can get it working with the second
option to start with, and then see how I go. Would anyone be interested in
the program if I can get it working??

Cheers
Dazz

--

#include <stdio.h>
int main(void) {
printf("Darryl Ross\n");
printf("Technical Manager\n");
printf("Bachblue Pty Ltd\n");
printf("darryl@bachblue.com.au\n\n");
return 0;
}

-- 
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