How to script/cron a password change?

[Evelyn Daroga_1]

I would like to cron a script that changes the password of a particular user
each night. Is there a trick to redirecting input to the passwd command in a
shell script?

[Steve White_8]

You can't use the passwd utility and redirect input to it. If you are capable
of allowing the client to do it you could write a script that forces them to
change the password at next login. You could then implement password aging on
the system.

[Evelyn Daroga_1]

Thanks for the quick reply. I suspected as much.
However, to implement password aging, does the system have to be trusted?

[Steve White_8]

Hi,

The password aging does not require that you convert your system to the trusted
environment. Go into sam and select the users and groups, then users, then
highlight a desired account i.e. you. Then from the actions menu, select
modify, then select password options and put what you want generically.

Then go to the /etc/passwd and see what has been placed in the password field.
This you would be capable of scripting to run where ever you want.

[Evelyn Daroga_1]

This should be a great help! Thanks a lot for your help.

[Al Langen_2]

Since you know the particular user, use the -f option in the crontab:
00 00 * * * passwd -f userlogin