Changing username in AIX 5.3

[balajipn]

Hi,

I want to change the username of a unix user. Can some one tell me how to do it? I am part of the security group.

I don't want to edit the /etc/passwd file to overwrite the username.

Thanks,
Balaji.

 

[p5wizard]

no can do in AIX I'm afraid...

either delete and recreate, but keep the uid the same and then afterwards do all the changes to the user again (backup copy of shadow passwd, user, limits, ... files is a prereq)

or edit all files /etc/passwd /etc/security/passwd /etc/group /etc/security/group /etc/security/user /etc/security/limits ... manually.


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[columb]

delete and recreate

I second that. It's reasonably safe if you use

lsuser oldname # this gets the user details
rmuser -p oldname # remove the old user
mkuser id=<old id> gecos=<old gecos> etc... newname #recreate with the old values
cd /home/olduser
cp -rp * ../newuser #transfer all their files to their new home directory

You may have to be careful which attributes you copy. uid, pgrp and groups are given, the gecos may well change with the new username. Use you skill and judgement with the rest.

You would also be best doing this as root


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