On Monday 15 January 2007 21:51, blfsuser wrote:
> I'm starting to build mysql-5.0.33 and use the commands from
> blfs-svn-20070111 as follows:
>
> groupadd -g 40 mysql
>
> and the groupadd works fine. When I issue the command
>
> useradd -c "MySQL Server" -d /dev/null -g mysql -s /bin/false -u 40
> mysql
>
> I get the following error:
>
> useradd: invalid numeric argument 'mysql'
>
> Does anyone know what has caused this and if so how can I overcome
> the problem?
>
> I think it may be something to do with cracklib, linuxpam or shadow
> and have installed the following versions of these
>
> cracklib-2.8.9
> Linux-PAM-0.99.4.0
> shadow-4.0.18.1

IIRC, it's a bug in shadow-4.0.18.1.
There was a (very sloppy IMO) RH patch applied to shadow in about 
4.0.17 or 4.0.18 that completely broke the functionality of the -u 
switch of useradd.  Or was it the -g switch? The patch was intended 
to implement or fix a numeric range check.

I think your possible options are:
- go back to shadow 4.0.16
- find the patch on the mailing list archives and rebuild shadow 
4.0.18.1
- omit the -u from your useradd then hack your passwd and shadow files
- try -g 40 instead of -g mysql

Sorry, these options have been jotted down very quickly, so YMMV.
Maybe someone else could comment on them...

-- 
Barius
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