Cannot Add User
I just installed a v5.1 single-boot system from CD. So far, the only changes I've made from the initial installation were to configure sshd, set the system security level to moderate (from high), and set the system clock; other than that, it's a clean installation. I'm now trying to install Postfix, and the problem I'm running into is that I cannot create new user accounts. I created several user accounts during installation, and they seem to be fine. But when I [manually] create entries in /etc/passwd, master.passwd, and group, the entries are 'ignored' -- e.g., a chown [newuser] [filename] command fails, attempts to su from root into the user account fail, etc. When I try to create the user via adduser (using the standard defaults), the account creation step fails with the following error: pw: user '[newuser]' disappeared during update Again, attempts to 'access' the user (i.e., chmod, etc.) will fail. Interestingly, though, if I try to re-create the user, adduser tells me that the user already exists -- and a check of the relevant files confirms that the entries are there. I've looked around for a solution to this problem, but haven't found one, so here I am. FYI, the system security level was set to high during installation, and was then reset to moderate after installation, as this system is intended to be used as a server (and high was too restrictive; I couldn't even [find a way to] set the system time correctly). Appreciate the assistance -- __ Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Cannot Add User
Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I just installed a v5.1 single-boot system from CD. So far, the only changes I've made from the initial installation were to configure sshd, set the system security level to moderate (from high), and set the system clock; other than that, it's a clean installation. I'm now trying to install Postfix, and the problem I'm running into is that I cannot create new user accounts. I created several user accounts during installation, and they seem to be fine. But when I [manually] create entries in /etc/passwd, master.passwd, and group, the entries are 'ignored' -- e.g., a chown [newuser] [filename] command fails, attempts to su from root into the user account fail, etc. When I try to create the user via adduser (using the standard defaults), the account creation step fails with the following error: pw: user '[newuser]' disappeared during update Again, attempts to 'access' the user (i.e., chmod, etc.) will fail. Interestingly, though, if I try to re-create the user, adduser tells me that the user already exists -- and a check of the relevant files confirms that the entries are there. It sounds like you've messed up your user database. Try running pwd_mkdb(8) by hand to get it straightened out. In future, remember not to edit passwd and so forth by hand; stick with adduser(8) and/or vipw(8) to avoid shooting yourself in the foot like this. ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Cannot Add User
** Sometime around 09:21 -0500 02/04/2004, Lowell Gilbert sent everyone: Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [...] I'm now trying to install Postfix, and the problem I'm running into is that I cannot create new user accounts. I created several user accounts during installation, and they seem to be fine. But when I [manually] create entries in /etc/passwd, master.passwd, and group, the entries are 'ignored' -- e.g., a chown [newuser] [filename] command fails, attempts to su from root into the user account fail, etc. When I try to create the user via adduser (using the standard defaults), the account creation step fails with the following error: pw: user '[newuser]' disappeared during update It sounds like you've messed up your user database. Try running pwd_mkdb(8) by hand to get it straightened out. In future, remember not to edit passwd and so forth by hand; stick with adduser(8) and/or vipw(8) to avoid shooting yourself in the foot like this. I have to wonder if this is unique to the BSDs; I've been using Solaris for nearly a decade now, and the _only_ way I've ever created user accounts is manually -- by editing /etc/passwd, shadow, and group files, creating user directories, etc. I've never had a problem with it before. (I'm pretty sure I've done the same under Linux, too.) Running adduser is fine for simple user accounts -- but there are few user accounts on a typical server. The problem with adduser is that it isn't well suited to things like accounts with no home directories or login shells, disabled passwords (not the same as a locked account), etc. Either way, I tried running pwd_mkdb -C /etc/passwd, and it reported a format error on line 3 -- which happens to be the root account, and is the first real data line in the file. Moreover, it's a line that I didn't modify. It reported no errors on /etc/master.passwd, so I copied and modified it into a passwd file -- and pwd_mkdb then reported no errors on the new passwd file. However, that action also prevented any new logins, and running passwd didn't fix the problem. So, after mucking around with pwd_mkdb for a while, I opted to simply reinstall the OS -- it was still a rather new installation, and I wanted to increase the /usr partition, anyway. After completing the new FreeBSD installation, the first thing I did upon logging in was run pwd_mkdb on /etc/passwd, and it still reported a format error on line 3. I then manually added the necessary users, and this time the postfix installation ran to completion. While it's possible that I messed up the format on the original try, it's unlikely -- I checked it over a dozen times before going in search of a FreeBSD list on which to ask the question. I'm thinking that there might have been something else in the mix. But either way, the clean install fixed it (though admittedly it was a rather Draconian fix). -- __ Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Cannot Add User
** Sometime around 09:21 -0500 02/04/2004, Lowell Gilbert sent everyone: Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [...] I'm now trying to install Postfix, and the problem I'm running into is that I cannot create new user accounts. I created several user accounts during installation, and they seem to be fine. But when I [manually] create entries in /etc/passwd, master.passwd, and group, the entries are 'ignored' -- e.g., a chown [newuser] [filename] command fails, attempts to su from root into the user account fail, etc. When I try to create the user via adduser (using the standard defaults), the account creation step fails with the following error: pw: user '[newuser]' disappeared during update It sounds like you've messed up your user database. Try running pwd_mkdb(8) by hand to get it straightened out. In future, remember not to edit passwd and so forth by hand; stick with adduser(8) and/or vipw(8) to avoid shooting yourself in the foot like this. I notice you don't recommend pw(8). I have some scripts that use pw(8) to add users with things like a /nonexistent shell - they do other stuff to do with quotas, smbpasswd and so on and allow it all to be managed in a single operation from a web interface. Am I storing up problems for myself like this? It has been fine so far. PWR. ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Cannot Add User
Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: ** Sometime around 09:21 -0500 02/04/2004, Lowell Gilbert sent everyone: Vince Sabio [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [...] I'm now trying to install Postfix, and the problem I'm running into is that I cannot create new user accounts. I created several user accounts during installation, and they seem to be fine. But when I [manually] create entries in /etc/passwd, master.passwd, and group, the entries are 'ignored' -- e.g., a chown [newuser] [filename] command fails, attempts to su from root into the user account fail, etc. When I try to create the user via adduser (using the standard defaults), the account creation step fails with the following error: pw: user '[newuser]' disappeared during update It sounds like you've messed up your user database. Try running pwd_mkdb(8) by hand to get it straightened out. In future, remember not to edit passwd and so forth by hand; stick with adduser(8) and/or vipw(8) to avoid shooting yourself in the foot like this. I have to wonder if this is unique to the BSDs; I've been using Solaris for nearly a decade now, and the _only_ way I've ever created user accounts is manually -- by editing /etc/passwd, shadow, and group files, creating user directories, etc. I've never had a problem with it before. (I'm pretty sure I've done the same under Linux, too.) Right. By default, FreeBSD uses databases to hold account information; the passwd file is present only for backward compatibility, and the master.passwd is used only as an *input* from which the databases are created. Running adduser is fine for simple user accounts -- but there are few user accounts on a typical server. The problem with adduser is that it isn't well suited to things like accounts with no home directories or login shells, disabled passwords (not the same as a locked account), etc. Normally I do those directly with vipw(8). If I were automating those, I'd use pw(8). Either way, I tried running pwd_mkdb -C /etc/passwd, and it reported a format error on line 3 -- which happens to be the root account, and is the first real data line in the file. That file has a slightly different format: you wanted pwd_mkdb /etc/master.passwd Moreover, it's a line that I didn't modify. It reported no errors on /etc/master.passwd, so I copied and modified it into a passwd file -- and pwd_mkdb then reported no errors on the new passwd file. However, that action also prevented any new logins, and running passwd didn't fix the problem. Here we've got an actual problem. There were a number of chances for bogus data to creep into the file, but in case of future problems, note that master.passwd is among the things that gets automatically backed up into /var/backups. So, after mucking around with pwd_mkdb for a while, I opted to simply reinstall the OS -- it was still a rather new installation, and I wanted to increase the /usr partition, anyway. After completing the new FreeBSD installation, the first thing I did upon logging in was run pwd_mkdb on /etc/passwd, and it still reported a format error on line 3. I then manually added the necessary users, and this time the postfix installation ran to completion. The postfix port adds all the necessary users for you, and does it correctly. [The next time you add a *real* new user, your postfix changes will be wiped out by pwd_mkdb.] While it's possible that I messed up the format on the original try, it's unlikely -- I checked it over a dozen times before going in search of a FreeBSD list on which to ask the question. I'm thinking that there might have been something else in the mix. But either way, the clean install fixed it (though admittedly it was a rather Draconian fix). Just use vipw(8) to make your changes to the password database, and all the tricky bits will be handled for you. ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
