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Date: Mon, 07 Jul 1997 21:12:41 +0000
To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
From: Jason Wells <jcwells@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: 
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At 13:03 07-07-97 -0700, you wrote:
>
>  Hi....whenever I update the password file my changes don't seem to take 
>effect even after a reboot...I've tried changing shells and comments and 
>they look right in the file, but don't work when logging in or using 
>finger...is there something else I need to do to update the system?  
>thanks...Adam

Yes there is something else you need to do.

Use the command vipw to update passwords.
Use the command chsh to change shells.
Use the command chgrp to change groups.

You should never have to directly edit the /etc/passwd or /ect
master.passwd files. Even if you do, it does not mean that the system is
updated the way that you want it to be. 

You see, passwd and master.passwd are not used by the system. There are
system generated files that are created based on passwd and master.passwd. 

There is a function (passwd_mkdb i think) which must be run to create the
system usable passwd files. When you edit by hand, this function is not
performed. When you use the command that I list above, passwd_mkdb is
performed for you automatically.

See the man for more info.

Later,
Jason Wells
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