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From: Don Yuniskis <dgy@rtd.com>
Message-Id: <199607241335.GAA14943@seagull.rtd.com>
Subject: Re: Cannot add users
To: phace@eden.com (Tony Montana)
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 06:35:35 -0700 (MST)
Cc: dgy@rtd.com, questions@FreeBSD.org
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.960724072404.14385D-100000@matrix.eden.com> from "Tony Montana" at Jul 24, 96 07:37:30 am
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It seems that Tony Montana said:
> On Wed, 24 Jul 1996, Don Yuniskis wrote:
> 
> > > When attempting to execute the 'adduser' command as root on my FreeBSD
> > > R2.1 box i get the following:
> > > 
> > > pwd_mkdb: /etc/master.passwd: Permission denied
> > > Invalid /etc/master.passwd - cannot add any users!
> > > 
> > > The permissions are set correctly:
> > > -rw------- 1 root wheel 1018 Jul 24 03:33 master.passwd
> > 
> > I assume you're running as root at the time?  
> yes i am root
> 
> > And, the permissions for /etc are OK? 
> Yes they are correct (see above)

No, you demonstrated the permissions for /etc/master.passwd -- I asked
about the permissions for /etc -- the directory itself!  :>
  
> > Does vipw allow you to manually  change/add to the password database 
> (or, does it blow up, too?) 
> This is what i get:
> 
>   /etc/pw.000623:13 lines, 719 characters.
>   vipw: rebulding the database...
>   pwd_mkdb: corrupted entry
>   pwd_mkdb: at line #13
>   pwd_mkdb: /etc/pw.000623: Inappropriate file type or format
>   re-edit the password file? [y]:

Well, there's your problem!  :>   Take a peak at line 13 and see why it
doesn't look right -- check the contents of each field (separated by
colons `:') against another *valid* entry (i.e. on lines 1-12)

--don