Suppressing logins

[gaf at blu.org (Jerry Feldman)]

I guess I go back to my original premise that it's a bad thing to do. 
Another way you could do things is to allow for empty passwords. 
On 3 Dec 2001 at 14:10, Tom Guilderson wrote:

> Jerry Feldman wrote:
> > 
> > As a long time Unix user, I can't conceive of a system where logins are not used.
> > 
> > At the installfest, Pamela King wanted to know if there was a way to suppress the need for a login.
> > (I know that I can write a replacement for login and getty) I don't know of a simple way to configure
> > a Linux system not to require a login. I know that Pamela and many other Windows and Mac
> > people don't understand what a login is, and the concept of a priviledged user vs. a regular user.
> 
> 
> This can be done very simply - but as Derek mentioned each user can not 
> customize their own settings.
> 
> Just modify the inittab file to make run level 5 the default and
> also modify run level 5 entry as follows:
> 
> # start X session for user generic
> x:5:respawn:su --command="/usr/X11R6/bin/startx" - generic
> 
> 
> This will cause the box to run startx as user generic at boot
> and rerun it if the user logs out, X crashes etc.  You need to
> create an account for "generic" - I recommend setting the 
> password field in /etc/shadow to a single character to prevent
> anyone from logging into the box as the user. You also will
> need to create the .xinitrc file and any customizations for 
> the Window Manager you choose for user guest.
> 
> There is also a lot more that could be done to a system
> that is wide open like this to prevent someone from
> accidently breeaking something.
> 
> --
> 
> Tom Guilderson
> Applied Technology Team
> CVS Pharmacy
> 401-770-3913
> mailto:TWGuilderson at cvs.com
> http://www.cvs.com/
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Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Associate Director
Boston Linux and Unix user group
http://www.blu.org