Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!execu!sequoia!rpp386!jfh
From: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.internals
Subject: Variable Length Encrypted Passwords
Summary: How are =you= doing it this week?
Message-ID: <18562@rpp386.cactus.org>
Date: 1 Oct 90 17:11:46 GMT
Reply-To: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II)
Followup-To: comp.unix.wizards
Organization: Lone Star Cafe and BBS Service
Lines: 21
X-Clever-Slogan: Recycle or Die.

Real simple question -

If your company (or vendor) is presently providing a facility
to support arbitrary length passwords (where "arbitrary" is
defined to be more than 8 and less than some large number,
say 100), how do they represent passwords of 9+ characters in
length when they are encrypted in the password file?

The problem that I've encountered in the past is that an old
style password of 9+ characters will encrypt to the expected
13 character string on an old style system.  This leaves a
problem of distinguishing old 9+ character passwords from new
9+ character passwords on a new style system.

I'd prefer implemented solutions, rather than suggestions.
Suggestions I've got, what I want is compatibility.
-- 
John F. Haugh II                             UUCP: ...!cs.utexas.edu!rpp386!jfh
Ma Bell: (512) 832-8832                           Domain: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org
"SCCS, the source motel!  Programs check in and never check out!"
		-- Ken Thompson