how to put * in passwd with thousand of character

packets · 06-05-2008, 12:53 AM

I have to disable thousand of user and the easiest way to do this is putting (*) in the passwd file.

However, I don't want to do this manually and looking for a bash commands that can out (*) in every user. I'm thinking of "echo" but does it can put (*) in the first character of the users in the passwd file?

Or do you have other suggestions?

vikas027 · 06-05-2008, 01:27 AM

whr do u want to exactly put * in /etc/passwd file ?
pls give an example

packets · 06-05-2008, 01:37 AM

I want to put the (*) in the first line

E.g.

admin:x:500:500::/home/admin:/bin/bash

I want it to be

*admin:x:500:500::/home/admin:/bin/bash

vikas027 · 06-05-2008, 01:45 AM

As per my understanding you need this,

say look for user root in /etc/passwd and put a * in front of it.

Quote:

cat /etc/passwd | grep root | sed 's/root/* &/'

this will give you this output.

Quote:

* root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

Hope this helps.

For all file modifications, learn sed. Its a wonderful utility.
This is the link.
http://www.grymoire.com/Unix/Sed.html

chrism01 · 06-05-2008, 05:42 PM

Actually, put a '!' or '*' in the passwd field: http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2005/1...ing-users.html