From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Sep 7 23:03:29 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 63F2D16A418 for ; Fri, 7 Sep 2007 23:03:29 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from fcondo@quinn.com) Received: from sushi.quinn.com (sushi.quinn.com [216.27.181.95]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DB6EE13C45D for ; Fri, 7 Sep 2007 23:03:28 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from fcondo@quinn.com) Received: from [10.0.0.34] (sashimi.quinn.com [216.27.181.11]) (authenticated bits=0) by sushi.quinn.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id l87MP4qv090111 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=AES128-SHA bits=128 verify=NO); Fri, 7 Sep 2007 15:25:04 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from fcondo@quinn.com) In-Reply-To: <2153.12.170.206.13.1189201903.squirrel@admintool.trueband.net> References: <1756.12.170.206.13.1189198324.squirrel@admintool.trueband.net> <6.0.0.22.2.20070907161149.025a9ad8@mail.computinginnovations.com> <2153.12.170.206.13.1189201903.squirrel@admintool.trueband.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v752.3) X-Priority: 3 (Normal) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Message-Id: <604C39AF-A3B8-410D-B096-C8C84E303A55@quinn.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Fred Condo Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 15:24:56 -0700 To: jhall@vandaliamo.net X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.752.3) Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Moving user/group databases X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:03:29 -0000 On Sep 7, 2007, at 2:51 PM, jhall@vandaliamo.net wrote: >> At 03:52 PM 9/7/2007, jhall@vandaliamo.net wrote: >>> All of my FreeBSD servers boot from CD, and we are going to be >>> having >>> several temporary employees coming and going over the next 6-12 >>> months. >>> Is it possible to move the user/group databases from their >>> location in >>> /etc (which is read only on my CDs) to another location? >>> >>> I have read the man page concerning pw and still do not >>> understand what I >>> should be doing. Any suggestions, or direction to a how-to would be >>> greatly appreciated. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> >>> Jay >> >> The simplest way would be to put a symbolic link from /etc to a >> writable >> location. You will need to re-make your boot CD to have this change. >> >> -Derek >> >> -- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> MailScanner thanks transtec Computers for their support. >> >> > > I have recreated the CD with the sym links, and I still run into a > problem > because adduser tries to create temporary files in /etc. If I > remember > correctly, the files it tries to create are /etc/passwd.XXXXXX. > > I was able to get pw to work to add the user accounts, but now I am > trying > to set the password for new account, and have hit the temp file snag. > > Is this something which can be reconfigured in pw.conf? > > Thanks, > > > Jay It sounds like you made a link for /etc/master_passwd. I'm pretty sure what DR meant was a symlink for the entire /etc directory: /etc -> /somewhere_writable/etc/ You need this because adduser also has to rewrite /etc/passwd and / etc/group when you add/delete users. This means copying your entire / etc hierarchy somewhere writable; naturally I don't know if this is acceptable in your organization.