problems with vipw

[hpux-fan]

hi there,
when i try to modify my /etc/passwd file using vipw i keep getting following message:

vipw: you mangled the temp file, /etc/passwd unchanged

when i try to modify root's start-up program (/data/prog/rootmenu) using sam i receive this:

Failed to modify user "root".
An invalid argument was supplied to an option in the command "usr/sam/lbin/usermod.sam".

hope someone of you experts out there can help me solve this problems. it's hp-ux 10.20 running on an hp9000 model 817s.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi:

Unless you want to create an un-startable system, don't modify the 'root' account's initial program in '/etc/passwd'. You *must* use '/sbin/sh'. This is the statically linked Posix shell available when nothing but the root filesystem is mounted.

The 'vipw' utility is being helpful and is alerting you to that fact that you are attempting to create chaos.

Regards!

...JRF...

[hpux-fan]

hi JRF
okay, i agree it's not clever to abuse root account for this. i've tried to select another start-up file for another (low-priority) user, but it won't work. i just want to achive following: when a user logs on s/he gets a menu to see instead of a shell. i don't know what's chaos with this? do you have another (more elegant) idea how to realize this?

kind regards
hpux-fan

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi (again):

OK, use a non-root account and in lieu of the shell program in '/etc/passwd' [the last field], substitute the absolute path and name of your menu script. You can use 'vipw' to make this change. When you exit your menu, your user will be logged-off.

Regards!

...JRF...

[hpux-fan]

i just followed your advice and then i was confrontated with a message saying:

lckpwdf: Permission denied
vipw: Cannot obtain lock for /etc/.pwd.lock

finally, Alex' advice helped me through this.
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=84458

[Prashanth.D.S]

Hi,

Modifying the root shell using vipw is causing problems.
Try the following:

1. /sbin/sh
Result: Can vi old /etc/passwd file and quit out.

2. /sbin/ksh
Result: Cannot vi new /etc/passwd file and quit out

3. vi /etc/passwd and change the root shell to /sbin/sh

4. save file

5. vipw and quit out
Result: This was successful.

For further information, see the vipw(1m) command man page

Best Regards,
Prashanth

[hpux-fan]

now it works!