From owner-freebsd-questions  Mon Mar 12  6:38: 6 2001
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Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 09:28:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Dru <genisis@istar.ca>
To: "Daniel Conlon [Donhost]" <daniel@donhost.co.uk>
Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject: Re: pw corrupts files
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Hi Daniel,

You may find the "enteruser" script to be helpful here. You'll find the
script and an excellent article regarding its use at:

http://www.de.daemonnews.org/199908/enteruser.html

HTH,

Dru


On Mon, 12 Mar 2001, Daniel Conlon [Donhost] wrote:

> I have a FreeBSD 3.4 box with about 4000 users. I use the 'pw' program
> called from scripts to create new accounts and to change passwords. On this
> system there is nothing other than the 'pw' program which would have cause
> to change the password files on the system. Users do not have shell access
> etc. so it is only the scripts and thus 'pw' which deals with the password
> files.
> 
> On two separate occasions the password files on the system have become
> corrupted. On the first occasion, /etc/master.passwd was truncated about
> half way down and /etc/passwd was left unharmed. On the second occasion both
> /etc/master.passwd and /etc/passwd were truncated at the same point once
> again about half way down.
> 
> I have read of similar problems in the list archives occurring on busy boxes
> where 'pw' is being invoked regularly but have found no explanation or fix.
> This is obviously a serious problem as on both occasions the root user has
> been removed from the system.
> 
> Any pointers or help you could offer on this would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Kind Regards,
> 
> Daniel Conlon
> Donhost Ltd.
> 
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