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From: ray3rd@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ray E Saddler III)
Newsgroups: comp.unix
Subject: Trouble with comments in /etc/passwd, need advice...
Message-ID: <981@mcdchg.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Jun-87 20:58:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: mcdchg.981
Posted: Mon Jun 29 20:58:16 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Jul-87 18:46:48 EDT
Sender: usenet@mcdchg.UUCP
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Corp., Seattle WA
Lines: 19
Keywords: comments strange behavior after passwd(1) is run
Approved: usenet@mcdchg.UUCP

I have been attempting to comment /etc/passwd with pound signs, like
'cap files and the like to help keep groups distinguished, and notated.
(Yes, I am aware of /etc/group, and I do use it) 8^}

Comments work fine, and don't cause a problem for login(1), but I get
strange entries around the comments after passwd(1) is run.

[Ray includes here an example of how using "#" comments in /etc/passwd
get munged up after /bin/passwd is used to change a password.
As comments per se aren't defined for /etc/passwd, except for the contents
of the GCOS field, the question becomes one of administrative procedure.
What have other sites done to help their administrator(s) keep track of
what "kinds" of users are authorized on the system?  -mod]

-- 
Ray E. Saddler III       CAD Support and Administration |    __  __ __       __
Boeing Aerospace Company Ballistic Systems Division     |   / / / //   //| // 
P.O. Box 3999 M.S. 3R-05 Kent Space Center East         |  /-< / //-  // |// _
Seattle, Wa. 98124  USA  (206)657-2824 or (206)657-3369 | /__//_//__ //  //__/