Matt Alexander;

Thanks for the explanation for the purpose for the file shadow-.

I guess I should have read the code for passwd.

If you have not already tryed LIDS, The Linux Intrusion Detection System,

http://www.lids.org

this is a nice kernel security tool.

Jerry Mikkelson


reply from Matt:
> 
> David's response is correct, but it doesn't answer the original question.
> The reason for passwd- and shadow- are to keep a backup of the previous
> passwd and shadow files.  If you add a new user to the system using
> useradd, for example, then your current passwd file will be moved to
> passwd-.  If you somehow hose your passwd file, then you could always
> recover the most recent version by moving passwd- to passwd.
> ~M
> 
> > > What is the purpose for the file /etc/shadow- ?