[NTLUG:Discuss] Default password?

[kbrannen@gte.net]

I agree.

Now let me modify the question somewhat and see if anyone knows this password 
question.  Lets say I create a new user, set a default password, but want to 
force the user to change the password next time he logs in.  I don't want to 
set any expiration time range (like he must change it every 30 days), I just 
want him to change it at his next log in, be it today or next week.  On 
Solaris, I'd do that with "passwd -f user", but I can find no equivalent for 
Linux.  Anyone?

Kevin


Frank Lewis Jr. wrote:

> Unless you specify not to set a password, or change the password after a
> new account is created, the default for most linux distributions is to
> *LOCK* all new accounts until the password is set or the account is
> otherwise unlocked by the system admin.
> 
> -Frank
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-admin at ntlug.org [mailto:discuss-admin at ntlug.org] On Behalf
> Of Neil Aggarwal

> When I create a user on my RedHat 7.2 system via the command:
> 
> /usr/sbin/useradd [login]
> 
> The shadow file has !! for the password.
> 
> I thought that a loging without a password should have
> the asterisk (*) character instead of a password.
> 
> What does the !! stand for?