Set password for remote authentication, e.g., POP client (APOP), IMAP client (CRAM), or mailbox filter authentication.

Syntax

pmdf password [password]

Qualifiers	Defaults
-create	-create
-delete	-create
-service=keyword	-service=DEFAULT
-show	-create
-test	-create

restrictions

All operations other than setting, deleting, or verifying one's own password require privileges.

prompts

Password:

password

Parameters

password

The password to set.

Description

The pmdf password utility is used to add and change password values that may be used for special authorization purposes. Whether you need to use this utility will depend on your site's configuration. If you use the native Berkeley mailbox from POP or IMAP clients, then you may need to. Otherwise you probably will not; for instance, PMDF popstore users and PMDF MessageStore users typically do not need to be concerned with password database entries. See Section 7.1 for a further discussion of the pmdf password utility as it relates to POP and IMAP client usage. And check with your system administrators if you are uncertain about whether you need to use this utility (to set a PMDF password database entry or entries).

Typically, if you use the pmdf password utility at all you would use it to create just a DEFAULT service entry. However, it is possible to instead have service specific entries; a single user can have separate entries for separate services, such as an entry for the IMAP service (preferentially used when authenticating during IMAP connections), and an entry for the POP service (preferentially used when authenticating during POP connections). Authentication checks preferentially for an appropriate service specific entry, but if a service specific entry is not present then falls through to checking the DEFAULT service entry.

Qualifiers

-create

Add a new password database entry. This qualifier is the default.

-delete

Delete a user/password entry pair from the PMDF password database.

-service=keyword

Specify for what service a particular password method and password value apply. The default service keyword is DEFAULT ; POP3 and IMAP are other possible keywords.

-show

Show a user/service/password-method entry in the PMDF password database. Note that this command does not show the password value.

-test

Compare a specified password against a password stored in the PMDF password database.

EXAMPLES

To set your password, with prompting so that the password is not displayed on the screen as you type it, issue the command:

# pmdf password Password:

ERROR MESSAGES

entry too long to fit in password file 
      

The password entry is too long; try using a shorter password value.

cannot open password file 
      

The PMDF password database does not exist, or could not be opened. Check with your system administrator.