Change Passwords

This page explains how to change Unix users' passwords, using the aptly-named Change Passwords module.

Introduction to Unix Passwords

On a typical Linux or Unix system, users' passwords are stored in the /etc/shadow file. They can be changed with the passwd command, or by editing that file directly.

In Webmin, you can use the Users and Groups module (covered on UsersAndGroups) to edit all details of a user, including his password. However, if you just need to change passwords on a regular basis, or want to give a less-trusted admin permissions to only change passwords, the Users and Groups module is un-necessarily complex.

The Change Passwords Module

This module can be found under the System category. When opened, it displays a list of the names of all local users on your system (shown below) for which the current user has permissions to make password changes - which will be all users by default. To change a user's password, do the following :

1. Click on the user's name on the main menu.
2. Fill in the New password field, and the New password again field.
3. If you want the password change to be made in other modules which have separate password databases (usually a good idea), check the Change password in other modules? box.
4. Click the Change button.

The Change Passwords module

Configuring the Change Passwords module

The Disk Quotas module has only a few options that can be changed to configure its user interface. To edit them, click on the *Module Config* link on the main page, which will take you to the standard configuration editing page. The following useful options are available :

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Module access control

As described on WebminUsers, it is possible to give a Webmin user access to only part of the functionality of a module. In the case of the Change Passwords module, you can limit which users passwords can be edited for. This is particularly useful if you are creating a Webmin login who should only be able to manage users within a certain group, but not touch critical system users like root.

You can also select if the Webmin user is required to know the old password for each user being changed, and if he is forced to enter the new password twice.

-- JamieCameron - 25 Mar 2007