I found this message after I run passwd username

[nataris]

Do you want (choose one letter only):
pronounceable passwords generated for you (g)
a string of letters generated (l) ?
to pick your passwords (p) ?
I want to know what does it mean for each option.

Please help to suggest me.

[Pete Randall]

Pronounceable: a string of letters that do not constitute a word but can be pronounce, like "furbinto"

string of letters: a string of letters that is not pronounceable (see above), like ijhewxib

pick: you select your own password strings.


Pete

[Patrick Wallek]

Well, it pretty much means what it says.

>>pronounceable passwords generated for you (g)

This will generate a password that HP-UX things is a pronounceable word.

>>a string of letters generated (l) ?

Is exactly what it says. A bunch of letters, like: hhuhhsdfghil

>>to pick your passwords (p) ?

Lets you choose your own password.

For more information see the "SECURITY FEATURES" portion of the passwd man page.

[Avinash20]

On Trusted Systems, the system administrator can control how passwords are generated. The following password generation options are available:

*

User-generated passwords.

A password screening option is available to check for the use of login and group names, login and group name permutations, and palindromes.

A new password must differ from the old password by at least three characters.
*

System-generated passwords using a combination of letters only.
*

System-generated passwords using a combination of letters, numbers, and punctuation characters.
*

System-generated passwords using pronounceable meaningless syllables.

Please refer to

http://docs.hp.com/en/B2355-90950/ch08s10.html
"Password Selection and Generation"

http://docs.hp.com/en/B2355-60105/passwd.1.html
"Security Features"

Please assign points :)