passwd command
Purpose
Changes a user's password.
Syntax
passwd [ User ]
Description
The passwd command sets and changes passwords for users. Use this command to change your own password (all users) or another user's password (padmin only). To change your own password, enter the passwd command. The passwd command prompts the non-padmin user for the old password and then prompts for the new password twice. The password is never displayed on the screen. If the two entries of the new password do not match, the passwd command prompts for the new password again.
Password policy is checked during a password change. Construct locally defined passwords according to the following password restrictions:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| minother | Specifies the minimum number of other characters. |
| minlen | Specifies the minimum number of characters. |
| maxrepeats | Specifies the maximum number of times a single character can be used in a password. |
| maxage | Specifies the maximum age of a password. A password must be changed after a specified amount of time measured in weeks. |
| maxexpired | Specifies the maximum number of weeks beyond the maxage value that a password can be changed by the user. |
| histexpire | Specifies the number of weeks that a user cannot reuse a password. |
| histsize | Specifies the number of previous passwords that the user cannot reuse. |
Exit Status
Security
Changing a password other than your own requires prime administrator authority.
Examples
- To change the password for user account heerlen, type:
The user will then be prompted to enter the new password.passwd heerlen
