Newsgroups:  comp.os.linux.setup
Date:        Mon, 02 Feb 2004 12:04:26 -0500

> I'm currently in the process of creating a back-up server for our
> primary linux system.
>
> My last sticking point is how best to migrate/copy user accounts.
> We're using shadow passwords and what I am wondering is if I can
> literally copy and paste entries from the shadow password on the
> primary system, into the shadow password file on the back-up system?
> My primary aim from this is to enable existing users to log into the
> back-up system without having to change their passwords.

(My opinion) Technically a better way to do this is by having a separate NIS (also known as YP) server that maintains all passwords, and telling all machines (incluing the backup server) to authenticate via NIS from the main NIS server.

However back to what you asked. I have done this before. The only key changes I did was to copy all RELEVANT data from:

/etc/shadow
/etc/passwd
/etc/group

Since passwd contains both /home location and shell information, that information MUST match. ex:

user1:x:500:500:Full Name:/home/user1:/bin/myshell

Directory /home/user1 and /bin/myshell must exist on the new machine.

This is just a starting point. Other files in /etc/ are needed for important system functionality, but these are the minimum I needed to allow access. I hope this helps.

Mauriat