Tony Cleveland writes:
>
> Aside from any technical issues, doesn't a "*" in the password field of the
> password file typically indicate a locked account?
It's what's traditionally used in /etc/passwd when shadow passwords are
in use; this usage seems analogous -- "the password is not here, it is
stored elsewhere". It *does* have the convenient property of being an
impossible password string, so if the "somewhere else" doesn't exist or
doesn't contain a password for this particular user, the account is
automatically disabled. Most people I know use "x" (which is also an
impossible password string) for intentionally disabled accounts.
-Larry Jones
Some people just don't have inquisitive minds. -- Calvin
