Date: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 18:31:59 -0700 From: John-David Childs <jdc@nterprise.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: username sizes character limits. Message-ID: <19971030183159.51582@denver.net> In-Reply-To: <TCPSMTP.17.10.30.-15.0.26.3047923923.3138@bbs.dcoisp.net>; from ringlord@bbs.dcoisp.net on Thu, Oct 30, 1997 at 05:00:26PM -0500 References: <TCPSMTP.17.10.30.-15.0.26.3047923923.3138@bbs.dcoisp.net>
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On Thursday October 30, 1997, ringlord@bbs.dcoisp.net <ringlord@bbs.dcoisp.net>
had this to say about "username sizes character limits.":
[SNIP]
> First, the standard unix limit for user names is 8 characters. Of
> course, twc-online is 10 characters. I then learned that if one changes
> UT_NAMESIZE in /usr/include/utmp.h this limit can be overridden. But, I
> have also been reading that this is not a good idea, due to certain
> programs having code that can only deal with the 8 character limit?
NIS is an example of a program which doesn't like > 8 character
usernames...but other than that I've been doing it for a year and a half.
You need to change /usr/src/include/utmp.h (not /usr/include/utmp.h...
this will be rebuilt by the make world process)). Set UT_NAMESIZE to 16.
In /usr/src/sys/sys/param.h, set MAXLOGNAME to 17.
You need ALL of the sources to do a proper make world ("world" is a tag in
/usr/src/Makefile which basically means "do everything from scratch").
You should have a GOOD understanding of /usr/src/Makefile before you do
anything...and your system WILL be in a state of flux as new binaries
replace old ones (you won't be able to do a ps, w, top, etc.)
It's interesting to note that under 2.2.2-RELEASE I was only able to get
15 character usernames DESPITE changing utmp.h/param.h, and in
2.2.5-RELEASE I am only able to get 14 character usernames. I'm in the
middle of redoing my system to make sure I didn't screw something up.
> Ok, besides all that. In the man page for adduser, it says that
> UT_NAMESIZE could be changed in /usr/include/utmp.h, and then you must
> recompile the world? What in the heck does that mean?
> Thanks for any info. Is this a kernel configuration? I keep reading
> about make world attempts and such in this archive. Does this have
> anything to do with recompiling the world? Was someone just trying to
> be cute?
> Thanks.
> Jeremy
>
--
John-David Childs (JC612) Enterprise Internet Solutions
System Administrator @denver.net/Internet-Coach/@ronan.net
& Network Engineer 1031 S. Parker Rd. #I-8 Denver, CO 80231
As of this^H^H^H^H next week, passwords will be entered in Morse code.
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