NAME

       mkpasswd - generate new password, optionally apply it to a user

SYNOPSIS

       mkpasswd [ args ] [ user ]

INTRODUCTION

       mkpasswd generates passwords and can apply them automatically to users.  mkpasswd is based
       on the code from Chapter 23 of the O'Reilly book "Exploring Expect".

USAGE

       With no arguments, mkpasswd returns a new password.

            mkpasswd

       With a user name, mkpasswd assigns a new password to the user.

            mkpasswd don

       The passwords are randomly generated according to the flags below.

FLAGS

       The -l flag defines the length of the password.  The default is 9.  The following  example
       creates a 20 character password.

            mkpasswd -l 20

       The  -d  flag  defines  the  minimum  number  of digits that must be in the password.  The
       default is 2.  The following example creates a password with at least 3 digits.

            mkpasswd -d 3

       The -c flag defines the minimum number of lowercase alphabetic characters that must be  in
       the password.  The default is 2.

       The  -C flag defines the minimum number of uppercase alphabetic characters that must be in
       the password.  The default is 2.

       The -s flag defines the minimum number of special characters that must be in the password.
       The default is 1.

       The  -p  flag  names  a program to set the password.  By default, /etc/yppasswd is used if
       present, otherwise /bin/passwd is used.

       The -2 flag causes characters to be chosen so that they alternate between right  and  left
       hands  (qwerty-style), making it harder for anyone watching passwords being entered.  This
       can also make it easier for a password-guessing program.

       The -v flag causes the password-setting interaction to be  visible.   By  default,  it  is
       suppressed.

EXAMPLE

       The  following example creates a 15-character password that contains at least 3 digits and
       5 uppercase characters.

            mkpasswd -l 15 -d 3 -C 5

SEE ALSO

       "Exploring Expect: A Tcl-Based Toolkit for Automating Interactive Programs" by Don  Libes,
       O'Reilly and Associates, January 1995.

AUTHOR

       Don Libes, National Institute of Standards and Technology

       mkpasswd  is  in the public domain.  NIST and I would appreciate credit if this program or
       parts of it are used.

                                          22 August 1994                              MKPASSWD(1)