Software >> OS >> Unix >> What are the fields in /etc/shadow

/etc/shadow file fields

 

user : $fnfffc$pGteyHdicpGOfffXX4ow#5 : 13064 : 0 : 99999 : 7 :   :  
                       
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(Fig.01: /etc/shadow file fields)

  1. User name : It is your login name
     
  2. Password: It your encrypted password. The password should be minimum 6-8 characters long including special characters/digits
     
  3. Last password change (lastchanged): Days since Jan 1, 1970 that password was last changed
     
  4. Minimum: The minimum number of days required between password changes i.e. the number of days left before the user is allowed to change his/her password
     
  5. Maximum: The maximum number of days the password is valid (after that user is forced to change his/her password)
     
  6. Warn : The number of days before password is to expire that user is warned that his/her password must be changed
     
  7. Inactive : The number of days after password expires that account is disabled
     
  8. Expire : days since Jan 1, 1970 that account is disabled i.e. an absolute date specifying when the login may no longer be used