Login names that start with a number

[Fred Swain_1]

We recently converted a system from HP-UX 9.04 to 10.20. Of the 5550 users
that are currently active on the system, 60 of the login names start with a
numeric digit. This was fine on 9.04, but now on 10.20 we get a message such
as this when trying to add a user with "useradd" (or SAM), or modify one with
"usermod" (or SAM):

Login '4fishers' is invalid

This is a trusted system, and we do have directories 0-9 under
/tcb/files/auth. The tsconvert program was able to successfully convert all of
the logins that start with a number, and they are fully operational. Does
anyone know of a workaround? Thank you!

[Charles Guiocheau]

Analyze your passwd file with the pwck command,
you will see that :
4fisher:*:102:20:,,,:/home/4fisher:/usr/bin/sh
First char in logname not alpha

Restiction for the first character : must be alpha and not alpha-numeric
regards

[Fred Swain_1]

Charles,

Thank you for your input. You have correctly stated the problem. However,
these logins work fine except when you try to CHANGE them. My question is:
Does anyone have a workaround for the usermod problem? My underlying
frustration is: Why has this capability been removed in HP-UX 10.20? If this
is a "security enhancement", then: In what way is a login name that starts
with a number any less secure than one that starts with a letter?

Thanks,
Fred

[Charles Guiocheau]

hello Fred,

It's probably less secure because there is only 10 possibilities if you start
with a number and 26 if you start with a letter.

regards

[Alan Riggs_1]

Of course, there are 36 possibilities if you start with a number or a letter.

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