Not allowed to modify user's "real name"

[Gord Moore]

I am using SAM to change the "Real Name" optional field on a user's ID. I get the error message "This user is currently logged in and therefore cannot be modified."

The user is actually not logged in, but a process is running under that user's id -- in this case oracle.

1) Why can't I change an "optional" field if the user is logged in? What is SAM trying to protect?
2) Anyone know of a work-around other that bringing the system down to single user mode?

[Kellogg Unix Team · Accepted solution]

As you already mentioned, its an optional field and I won't worry too much about it. I would go to /etc/passwd file (vipw) and change the name there. Any new connection will take that name.

HTH
...Manjeet

[Jeff Schussele]

I agree w/Manjeet.
This is one of those times where the good old manual way is best.
One caveat - use vipw - to edit the passwd file. Much safer & will buffer any other changes made while passwd is being edited.

Rgds,
Jeff

[Ian Kidd_1]

1) "Real Name" is an "optional" field in SAM, but to modify this value, SAM uses it's version of usermod (I believe it's /usr/sam/lbin/usermod, but I'm not positive). Other options for this command can change UID,group membership, etc., so SAM is trying to protect data integrity by insuring any user (or process owned by a user) is not on the system before it's going to run usermod against it - better safe than corrupt.

2) I agree with Manjeet's and Jeff's suggestion of using vipw as a work-around to your problem. Nothing beats good ole command line.

By the way, what's going with ITRC's web site? I've been trying to answer this one for 3 hours now!

[Niraj Kumar Verma]

Hi,

You can also change using command /bin/chfn


# chfn


Regards
-Niraj

[Gord Moore]

I used vipw and it seemed to work. Unfortunately I need to put info into that field -- employee number and real name -- which gets checked against the master list to see if they are still employed here.

Thanks for your help.