Command ReferenceA-149
NAME
shadow - shadow password file
SYNOP SIS
/etc/shadow
DESCRIPTION
The shadow file provides more secure storage for the users password (which
would otherwise be in /etc/passwd). When the password field of an entry in
/etc/passwd is empty, /etc/shadow must contain a corresponding entry with
the same user name but a non-empty encrypted password.
username:password:
The following list explains the required fields:
username The users login name, not more than eight characters.
password The users password, in an encrypted form that is generated by the
UNIX passwd function.
There can be other fields in the /etc/shadow file following the : after the
password.
EXAMPLE
Here is a sample shadow password file entry:
dave:Qs5I6pBb2rJDA:
SEE ALSO
passwd, options, nis, nsswitch.conf
shadow