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Linux Academy by Uirá Ribeiro

getent command on Linux (change property)

The getent command on Linux is used to access databases of user accounts, passwords, and user groups.

Only the databases configured in the /etc/nsswitch.conf file can be accessed with this command.

The command syntax is:

$ getent key database

The database may assume the following values:

  • passwd: refers to the /etc/passwd file;
  • shadow: refers to the /etc/shadow file;
  • group: refers to the /etc/group file;

The key is the item where you want information from the database.

See the example, it shows the zabbix user account data:

$ getent passwd zabbix zabbix:x: 500:501: :/home/zabbix: /bin/bash

Only root can access the shadow database:

# getent shadow zabbix zabbix: $6$.. 5pdu8/$sboejzwpye3hrnhopi8pjw5rppm2eeqc3oywgaqfajwjsaoy xqmgs9bylcnitkk.su.oqcuSEWRUEPOAUZFQ0.: 16537:0:99999:7: :16509:

The getnet command is useful for taking data from a particular user account or group, without having to list the contents of the passwd, shadow, or group files and filter the results with grep.

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