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HTDBM(1) htdbm HTDBM(1)
NAME
htdbm - Manipulate DBM password databases
SYNOPSIS
htdbm [ -TDBTYPE ] [ -c ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] [ -t ] [ -v ] [ -x ]
filename username
htdbm -b [ -TDBTYPE ] [ -c ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] [ -t ] [ -v ] file-
name username password
htdbm -n [ -c ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] [ -t ] [ -v ] username
htdbm -nb [ -c ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] [ -t ] [ -v ] username password
htdbm -v [ -TDBTYPE ] [ -c ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] [ -t ] [ -v ] file-
name username
htdbm -vb [ -TDBTYPE ] [ -c ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] [ -t ] [ -v ]
filename username password
htdbm -x [ -TDBTYPE ] [ -m | -d | -p | -s ] filename username
htdbm -l [ -TDBTYPE ]
SUMMARY
htdbm is used to manipulate the DBM format files used to store user-
names and password for basic authentication of HTTP users via
mod_auth_dbm. See the dbmmanage documentation for more information
about these DBM files.
OPTIONS
-b Use batch mode; i.e., get the password from the command line
rather than prompting for it. This option should be used with
extreme care, since the password is clearly visible on the com-
mand line.
-c Create the passwdfile. If passwdfile already exists, it is
rewritten and truncated. This option cannot be combined with
the -n option.
-n Display the results on standard output rather than updating a
database. This option changes the syntax of the command line,
since the passwdfile argument (usually the first one) is omit-
ted. It cannot be combined with the -c option.
-m Use MD5 encryption for passwords. On Windows, Netware and TPF,
this is the default.
-d Use crypt() encryption for passwords. The default on all plat-
forms but Windows, Netware and TPF. Though possibly supported
by htdbm on all platforms, it is not supported by the httpd
server on Windows, Netware and TPF.
-s Use SHA encryption for passwords. Facilitates migration from/to
Netscape servers using the LDAP Directory Interchange Format
(ldif).
-p Use plaintext passwords. Though htdbm will support creation on
all platforms, the httpd daemon will only accept plain text
passwords on Windows, Netware and TPF.
-l Print each of the usernames and comments from the database on
stdout.
-t Interpret the final parameter as a comment. When this option is
specified, an additional string can be appended to the command
line; this string will be stored in the "Comment" field of the
database, associated with the specified username.
-v Verify the username and password. The program will print a mes-
sage indicating whether the supplied password is valid. If the
password is invalid, the program exits with error code 3.
-x Delete user. If the username exists in the specified DBM file,
it will be deleted.
filename
The filename of the DBM format file. Usually without the exten-
sion .db, .pag, or .dir. If -c is given, the DBM file is cre-
ated if it does not already exist, or updated if it does exist.
username
The username to create or update in passwdfile. If username
does not exist in this file, an entry is added. If it does
exist, the password is changed.
password
The plaintext password to be encrypted and stored in the DBM
file. Used only with the -b flag.
-TDBTYPE
Type of DBM file (SDBM, GDBM, DB, or "default").
BUGS
One should be aware that there are a number of different DBM file for-
mats in existence, and with all likelihood, libraries for more than
one format may exist on your system. The three primary examples are
SDBM, NDBM, GNU GDBM, and Berkeley/Sleepycat DB 2/3/4. Unfortunately,
all these libraries use different file formats, and you must make sure
that the file format used by filename is the same format that htdbm
expects to see. htdbm currently has no way of determining what type of
DBM file it is looking at. If used against the wrong format, will sim-
ply return nothing, or may create a different DBM file with a differ-
ent name, or at worst, it may corrupt the DBM file if you were
attempting to write to it.
One can usually use the file program supplied with most Unix systems
to see what format a DBM file is in.
EXIT STATUS
htdbm returns a zero status ("true") if the username and password have
been successfully added or updated in the DBM File. htdbm returns 1 if
it encounters some problem accessing files, 2 if there was a syntax
problem with the command line, 3 if the password was entered interac-
tively and the verification entry didn't match, 4 if its operation was
interrupted, 5 if a value is too long (username, filename, password,
or final computed record), 6 if the username contains illegal charac-
ters (see the Restrictions section), and 7 if the file is not a valid
DBM password file.
EXAMPLES
htdbm /usr/local/etc/apache/.htdbm-users jsmith
Adds or modifies the password for user jsmith. The user is prompted
for the password. If executed on a Windows system, the password will
be encrypted using the modified Apache MD5 algorithm; otherwise, the
system's crypt() routine will be used. If the file does not exist,
htdbm will do nothing except return an error.
htdbm -c /home/doe/public_html/.htdbm jane
Creates a new file and stores a record in it for user jane. The user
is prompted for the password. If the file exists and cannot be read,
or cannot be written, it is not altered and htdbm will display a mes-
sage and return an error status.
htdbm -mb /usr/web/.htdbm-all jones Pwd4Steve
Encrypts the password from the command line (Pwd4Steve) using the MD5
algorithm, and stores it in the specified file.
SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
Web password files such as those managed by htdbm should not be within
the Web server's URI space -- that is, they should not be fetchable
with a browser.
The use of the -b option is discouraged, since when it is used the
unencrypted password appears on the command line.
RESTRICTIONS
On the Windows and MPE platforms, passwords encrypted with htdbm are
limited to no more than 255 characters in length. Longer passwords
will be truncated to 255 characters.
The MD5 algorithm used by htdbm is specific to the Apache software;
passwords encrypted using it will not be usable with other Web
servers.
Usernames are limited to 255 bytes and may not include the character
:.
Apache HTTP Server 2005-04-07 HTDBM(1)
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