chpasswd - update password file in batch


SYNOPSIS

       chpasswd [-e]


DESCRIPTION

       chpasswd reads a file of user name and password pairs from
       standard input and uses this information to update a group
       of  existing  users.  Without the -e switch, the passwords
       are expected to be cleartext.  With  the  -e  switch,  the
       passwords are expected to be in encrypted form.  Each line
       is of the format

              user_name:password

       The named user must exist.  The supplied password will  be
       encrypted  as  necessary, and the password age updated, if
       present.

       This command is intended to be  used  in  a  large  system
       environment  where  many  accounts are created at a single
       time.


CAVEATS

       The input file must be  protected  if  it  contains  unen­
       crypted passwords.


SEE ALSO

       passwd(1), useradd(8), newusers(8)


AUTHOR

       Julianne Frances Haugh (jfh@austin.ibm.com)


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