How to set MD5 encrypted password for new user

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

I'd like to create a user account on every new linux box. I'd like to setup password for this use using MD5 hash from /etc/shadow from existing system.
But as far as I see, "useradd -p" accepts only "crypt", not MD5.

Is there another simple method to set up password for new user using MD5 hash?

(there is RHEL3 update 6)

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

I wonder if the following will help, assuming that in authconfig "use md5 passwords" is selected.
useradd user1;
echo password |passwd user1 --stdin;

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

as far as I see, in your example I should using palin-text password and I'd like to avoid this.
I want to use MD5 string from existing shadow file like "$1$.fdYDaVj$G8zLaaP/Eym0hkokPCnSZ0"

[g33k]

If your system use MD5 hashes (MD5crypt function) as standard(for all users)...
You can just add new user with any password and then just edit /etc/shadow (and it should) be OK, of course must be root to do that.

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

g33k, thanks, I'm aware about possibility to edit /etc/shadow with sed/perl/..., but I'd like to do this in more elegant way.

[Matti_Kurkela · Accepted solution]

There is a command "chpasswd".
First you must create a file (or something you can pipe to chpasswd command) with the following structure:
:
:
...

The passwords can be encrypted or plaintext. If the passwords are already encrypted (by whatever method), you must use the -e option with the chpasswd command.

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

Matti, many thanks! it works.

happy sysadmin day to you and all forumers!

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

thanks to all - chpasswd works!