Moving passwd file to new server

rtcary · 07-19-2005, 02:11 PM

If one has 500 users on a server and need to move them to another newly installed server that just has root, the one new user (GUID = 500) plus all of the entries with a GUID < 500, what is the best way to copy the users to the new computer?

nixcraft · 07-19-2005, 02:47 PM

Create tar file of /etc/passwd /etc/shadow and /home directory + Mail directory. Then restore this tar file. Becareful about root password. Copy the file /etc (passwd + shadow) and rest to the /home and mail folder.

Tinkster · 07-19-2005, 03:04 PM

As root

Code:

awk -F: '$3 >= 500 {print}' /etc/passwd > ~/pwd.txt 
awk -F: '{print $1}'  ~/pwd.txt | xargs -i grep {} /etc/shadow > ~/shd.tx
scp ~/pwd.txt user@server2:.
scp ~/shd.txt user@server2:.

On the second server as root:

Code:

cat ~user/pwd.txt >> /etc/passwd
cat ~user/shd.txt >> /etc/shadow

OIFS=$IFS; IFS=: \
while read name passwd uid gid fullname home shell \
do \
  mkdir "$home" \
  chown "$uid":"$gid"  "$home" \
done < ~user/pwd.txt \
IFS=$OIFS

The red bit is untested, but it should work ;)

Cheers,
Tink

rtcary · 07-19-2005, 09:42 PM

Thank you for the awk script. awk is one of those Linux/unix treasures I have not explored (partially because it is quite intimidating).

Tinkster · 07-19-2005, 10:06 PM

Welcome - were you brave enough to test the
other bits? :}

chrism01 · 07-20-2005, 01:58 AM

Here's a nice awk intro, with further links

http://www.oracle.com/technology/pub...laney_awk.html