From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Dec 17 17:40:37 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id CDB4716A41F for ; Sat, 17 Dec 2005 17:40:37 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gaynw@bristolsystems.com) Received: from fed1rmmtao07.cox.net (fed1rmmtao07.cox.net [68.230.241.32]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id F171643D7E for ; Sat, 17 Dec 2005 17:40:28 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gaynw@bristolsystems.com) Received: from workdog ([68.228.71.3]) by fed1rmmtao07.cox.net (InterMail vM.6.01.05.02 201-2131-123-102-20050715) with ESMTP id <20051217173948.KZO3131.fed1rmmtao07.cox.net@workdog>; Sat, 17 Dec 2005 12:39:48 -0500 From: "Gayn Winters" To: "'aksis'" Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 09:40:07 -0800 Message-ID: <074701c60330$ef0e4080$6501a8c0@workdog> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.4024 In-Reply-To: <447ja3y88v.fsf@be-well.ilk.org> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 Importance: Normal Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: RE: change max username length 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: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 17:40:37 -0000 > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org > [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of > Lowell Gilbert > Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 8:54 AM > To: aksis > Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org > Subject: Re: change max username length > > > aksis writes: > > > Is there a simple was to change the max username length? > > Check the archives of this list; this has been > discussed more than once in the last month. > _______________________________________________ >From man adduser: The user name is restricted to whatever pw(8) will accept. Generally this means it may contain only lowercase char- acters or digits. Maximum length is 16 characters. The reasons for this limit are historical. Given that people have tradition- ally wanted to break this limit for aesthetic reasons, it has never been of great importance to break such a basic fundamental parameter in UNIX. You can change UT_NAMESIZE in and recompile the world; people have done this and it works, but you will have problems with any precompiled programs, or source that assumes the 8-character name limit and NIS. The NIS protocol mandates an 8-character username. If you need a longer login name for e-mail addresses, you can define an alias in /etc/mail/aliases. Plus here's a pointer to one discussion. http://unix.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/FreeBSD/questions/2005-04/1879.h tml Our only application for this is email, and aliases work fine. -gayn Bristol Systems Inc. 714/532-6776 www.bristolsystems.com