vipw(8) — Maintenance
NAME
vipw − Edits the /etc/passwd file
SYNOPSIS
/usr/sbin/vipw
DESCRIPTION
You use the vipw command to edit the /etc/passwd file with the editor defined by the EDITOR environment variable. If this environment variable is not set, the default editor is vi.
The vipw command performs basic consistency checks on the edited file. If a hashed indexed passwd file existed previously, the vipw command uses the mkpasswd command to recreate it.
The vipw command must not be used on systems that use extended security attributes since it cannot set or change them. You must be superuser to run this command. Only the superuser and security administrators should have execute access to this command.
Because the vipw command cannot effectively change all the attributes of users, it should not be used in a secure environment.
The vipw command accesses the following files, and requires the listed permissions:
| Permissions | File |
| rw | /etc/passwd |
| rw | /etc/passwd.pag |
| rw | /etc/passwd.dir |
| rw | /etc/ptmp |
| rw | /etc/ptmp.pag |
| rw | /etc/ptmp.dir |
EXAMPLE
To edit the /etc/passwd file, type the following command and add the required line entry:
# vipw
FILES
/usr/sbin/vipw
Specifies the command path.
SEE ALSO
Commands: passwd(1), adduser(8), mkpasswd(8)
Files: passwd(4)