Date: 04 Feb 2004 09:21:41 -0500 From: Lowell Gilbert <freebsd-questions-local@be-well.ilk.org> To: Vince Sabio <vince@vjs.org> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Cannot Add User Message-ID: <44n07zvsay.fsf@be-well.ilk.org> In-Reply-To: <p05200f02bc464ca9375d@[68.24.1.250]> References: <p05200f02bc464ca9375d@[68.24.1.250]>
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Vince Sabio <vince@vjs.org> writes: > I just installed a v5.1 single-boot system from CD. So far, the only > changes I've made from the initial installation were to configure > sshd, set the system security level to "moderate" (from "high"), and > set the system clock; other than that, it's a "clean" installation. > > I'm now trying to install Postfix, and the problem I'm running into is > that I cannot create new user accounts. I created several user > accounts during installation, and they seem to be fine. But when I > [manually] create entries in /etc/passwd, master.passwd, and group, > the entries are 'ignored' -- e.g., a "chown [newuser] [filename]" > command fails, attempts to su from root into the user account fail, > etc. When I try to create the user via adduser (using the standard > defaults), the account creation step fails with the following error: > > pw: user '[newuser]' disappeared during update > > Again, attempts to 'access' the user (i.e., chmod, etc.) will > fail. Interestingly, though, if I try to re-create the user, adduser > tells me that the user already exists -- and a check of the relevant > files confirms that the entries are there. It sounds like you've messed up your user database. Try running pwd_mkdb(8) by hand to get it straightened out. In future, remember not to edit passwd and so forth by hand; stick with adduser(8) and/or vipw(8) to avoid shooting yourself in the foot like this.
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