Script for changing root passwd

[Chern Jian Leaw]

HI,
I would like to write a script to change the root passwd in /etc/passwd on every machine on a monthly basis i.e the 1st day of the month.

But I'm really unsure how I could just access the 1st line in the /etc/passwd file which contains the entry for root and its encrypted passwd. I'd then like to modify the second field for root's entry (the encrypted passwd) to a new value.

The new passwd value is to be read from a file.

Could someone show me how the script should be written in AWK or any other scripting languages? I need to also check that for every begining of the month, the passwd should be modified.

Could someone kindly help me out? I'm still a newbie to scripting.

Thanks

[harry d brown jr · Accepted solution]

do something like this:

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0xbdb6cf38d6bdd5118ff10090279cd0f9,00.html

and please read this

http://66.216.15.50/ITRCForumsEtiquette

live free or die
harry

[Jean-Louis Phelix]

Hi,

This script should d it :

/tmp/NEW contains the new password. I use vipw to add security check after modification. Just in case ...

Regards.

#!/usr/bin/sh
[ $(date +'%d') != 1 ] &&
{
echo not first day of month ...
exit 1
}
NEWPASS=$(cat /tmp/NEW)
vipw <<+++
/^root:
f:lct:$NEWPASSx!
+++

[Jean-Louis Phelix]

hi

Cut and Paste problem

f:lct:$NEWPASSx!

should have an ESC (use CTRL-V then ESC)inserted before last x :

f:lct:$NEWPASS^[x!

Regards.