Slackware's passwd & group

This describes the changes in Slackware's passwd and group files over the years. Also trying to track down some of the mystery legacy users and groups and the anomalous file/dir ownerships.

Groups

bin

From users-and-groups:

   bin
          HELP: No files on my system are owned by user or group
          bin. What good are they? Historically they were probably
          the owners of binaries in /bin? It is not mentioned in
          the FHS, Debian Policy, or the changelogs of base-passwd
          or base-files.

          LSB 1.3 lists bin as legacy, and says: "The 'bin'
          UID/GID is included for compatibility with legacy
          applications. New applications should no longer use the
          'bin' UID/GID."

seejpeg's Makefile:

install:
                install -s -o root -g bin -m 4711 seejpeg $(BIN)

_netpipes.tar.gz:

drwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/encapsulate
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/faucet
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/getpeername
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/hose
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/sockdown
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1999-01-30 19:11 usr/bin/timelimit

_procmail.tar.gz:

drwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1995-12-06 00:02 usr/bin/
-rwsr-sr-x root/mail         0 1995-12-06 00:01 usr/bin/procmail
-rwxr-sr-x root/mail         0 1995-12-06 00:01 usr/bin/lockfile
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1995-12-06 00:02 usr/bin/formail
-rwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 1995-12-06 00:03 usr/bin/mailstat

_uucp.tar.gz:

drwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 2003-06-06 00:37 usr/bin/
drwxr-xr-x root/bin          0 2003-06-06 00:37 usr/sbin/

sys

Not seen in the MANIFEST.

power

/usr/share/polkit-1/rules.d/10-enable-upower-suspend.rules:

polkit.addRule(
  function(action, subject) {
    if ( (action.id == "org.freedesktop.upower.suspend" ||
          action.id == "org.freedesktop.upower.hibernate")
          && subject.isInGroup("power") ) {
      return polkit.Result.YES;
    }
  }
);

3.3

passwd

halt:x:7:0:halt:/sbin:/sbin/halt
operator:x:11:0:operator:/root:/bin/bash
root:x:0:0::/root:/bin/bash
shutdown:x:6:0:shutdown:/sbin:/sbin/shutdown
sync:x:5:0:sync:/sbin:/bin/sync
bin:x:1:1:bin:/bin:
ftp:x:404:1::/home/ftp:/bin/bash
daemon:x:2:2:daemon:/sbin:
adm:x:3:4:adm:/var/adm:
lp:x:4:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:
mail:x:8:12:mail:/var/spool/mail:
postmaster:x:14:12:postmaster:/var/spool/mail:/bin/bash
news:x:9:13:news:/usr/lib/news:
uucp:x:10:14:uucp:/var/spool/uucppublic:
man:x:13:15:man:/usr/man:
games:x:12:100:games:/usr/games:
guest:x:405:100:guest:/dev/null:/dev/null
nobody:x:65534:100:nobody:/dev/null:

group

root::0:root
bin::1:root,bin,daemon
daemon::2:root,bin,daemon
sys::3:root,bin,adm
adm::4:root,adm,daemon
tty::5:
disk::6:root,adm
lp::7:lp
mem::8:
kmem::9:
wheel::10:root
floppy::11:root
mail::12:mail
news::13:news
uucp::14:uucp
man::15:man
users::100:games
nogroup::-2:

3.3 -> 3.4

No changes.

8.1

diff from 3.3

passwd

passwd from 3.3 is sorted.

1c1
< adm:x:3:4:adm:/var/adm:
---
> adm:x:3:4:adm:/var/log:
4c4
< ftp:x:404:1::/home/ftp:/bin/bash
---
> ftp:x:14:50::/home/ftp:
6c6
< guest:x:405:100:guest:/dev/null:/dev/null
---
> gdm:x:42:42:GDM:/var/state/gdm:/bin/bash
9,10c9,10
< mail:x:8:12:mail:/var/spool/mail:
< man:x:13:15:man:/usr/man:
---
> mail:x:8:12:mail:/:
> mysql:x:27:27:MySQL:/var/lib/mysql:/bin/bash
12c12
< nobody:x:65534:100:nobody:/dev/null:
---
> nobody:x:99:99:nobody:/:
14c14
< postmaster:x:14:12:postmaster:/var/spool/mail:/bin/bash
---
> pop:x:90:90:POP:/:
15a16
> rpc:x:32:32:RPC portmap user:/:/bin/false
16a18
> smmsp:x:25:25:smmsp:/var/spool/clientmqueue:

group

16,18c16,28
< man::15:man
< users::100:games
< nogroup::-2:
---
> man::15:
> games::20:
> slocate:x:21:
> smmsp::25:smmsp
> mysql::27:
> rpc:x:32:
> gdm::42:
> ftp::50:
> pop::90:pop
> nobody::98:nobody
> nogroup::99:
> users::100:
> console:x:101:

passwd

root:x:0:0::/root:/bin/bash
bin:x:1:1:bin:/bin:
daemon:x:2:2:daemon:/sbin:
adm:x:3:4:adm:/var/log:
lp:x:4:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:
sync:x:5:0:sync:/sbin:/bin/sync
shutdown:x:6:0:shutdown:/sbin:/sbin/shutdown
halt:x:7:0:halt:/sbin:/sbin/halt
mail:x:8:12:mail:/:
news:x:9:13:news:/usr/lib/news:
uucp:x:10:14:uucp:/var/spool/uucppublic:
operator:x:11:0:operator:/root:/bin/bash
games:x:12:100:games:/usr/games:
ftp:x:14:50::/home/ftp:
smmsp:x:25:25:smmsp:/var/spool/clientmqueue:
mysql:x:27:27:MySQL:/var/lib/mysql:/bin/bash
rpc:x:32:32:RPC portmap user:/:/bin/false
gdm:x:42:42:GDM:/var/state/gdm:/bin/bash
pop:x:90:90:POP:/:
nobody:x:99:99:nobody:/:

group

root::0:root
bin::1:root,bin,daemon
daemon::2:root,bin,daemon
sys::3:root,bin,adm
adm::4:root,adm,daemon
tty::5:
disk::6:root,adm
lp::7:lp
mem::8:
kmem::9:
wheel::10:root
floppy::11:root
mail::12:mail
news::13:news
uucp::14:uucp
man::15:
games::20:
slocate:x:21:
smmsp::25:smmsp
mysql::27:
rpc:x:32:
gdm::42:
ftp::50:
pop::90:pop
nobody::98:nobody
nogroup::99:
users::100:
console:x:101:

8.1 -> 9.0

No changes.

9.0 -> 9.1

passwd

17a18
> sshd:x:33:33:sshd:/:

group

18c18,19
< slocate:x:21:
---
> slocate::21:
> utmp::22:
21c22,23
< rpc:x:32:
---
> rpc::32:
> sshd::33:sshd
22a25
> shadow::43:
28c31
< console:x:101:
---
> console::101:

ChangeLog

Tue Jun 17 16:20:17 PDT 2003
a/etc-5.1-noarch-3.tgz:  Added /etc/shadow entry for sshd user.
+--------------------------+
Fri Jun 13 23:02:35 PDT 2003
a/etc-5.1-noarch-2.tgz:  Removed 'x' from non-shadowed /etc/group entries.
  Added sshd user to /etc/passwd and sshd group to /etc/group.
  Fixed a bug installing a new /var/run/utmp.
l/utempter-0.5.2-i486-2.tgz:  Don't include an 'x' if group utmp must be added.
+--------------------------+
Sun Jun  8 20:53:01 PDT 2003
a/etc-5.1-noarch-1.tgz:  Added utmp and shadow to /etc/group.
  /etc/shadow is now readable by group shadow, and /var/run/utmp and
  /var/log/wtmp are read-writable by group utmp.

9.1 -> 10.0

passwd

No changes.

group

16a17,19
> audio::17:
> video::18:
> cdrom::19:

ChangeLog

Sun Jun 20 02:07:22 PDT 2004
This is Slackware 10.0 release candidate 2.
a/etc-5.1-noarch-9.tgz:  Make sure audio/video/cdrom groups are installed.
  (Thanks to Piter PUNK)
+--------------------------+
Fri May 21 01:39:02 PDT 2004
a/etc-5.1-noarch-8.tgz:  Add to /etc/group: audio(17), video(18), cdrom(19).

10.0 -> 10.1

No changes.

10.1 -> 10.2

passwd

No changes.

group

30a31
> scanner::93:

ChangeLog

Fri Jul 29 10:33:59 PDT 2005
a/etc-5.1-noarch-10.tgz:  Added scanner group.

10.2 -> 11.0

No changes.

11.0 -> 12.0

passwd

2,5c2,5
< bin:x:1:1:bin:/bin:
< daemon:x:2:2:daemon:/sbin:
< adm:x:3:4:adm:/var/log:
< lp:x:4:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:
---
> bin:x:1:1:bin:/bin:/bin/false
> daemon:x:2:2:daemon:/sbin:/bin/false
> adm:x:3:4:adm:/var/log:/bin/false
> lp:x:4:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:/bin/false
9,11c9,11
< mail:x:8:12:mail:/:
< news:x:9:13:news:/usr/lib/news:
< uucp:x:10:14:uucp:/var/spool/uucppublic:
---
> mail:x:8:12:mail:/:/bin/false
> news:x:9:13:news:/usr/lib/news:/bin/false
> uucp:x:10:14:uucp:/var/spool/uucppublic:/bin/false
13,15c13,15
< games:x:12:100:games:/usr/games:
< ftp:x:14:50::/home/ftp:
< smmsp:x:25:25:smmsp:/var/spool/clientmqueue:
---
> games:x:12:100:games:/usr/games:/bin/false
> ftp:x:14:50::/home/ftp:/bin/false
> smmsp:x:25:25:smmsp:/var/spool/clientmqueue:/bin/false
18c18
< sshd:x:33:33:sshd:/:
---
> sshd:x:33:33:sshd:/:/bin/false
20,21c20,24
< pop:x:90:90:POP:/:
< nobody:x:99:99:nobody:/:
---
> apache:x:80:80:User for Apache:/srv/httpd:/bin/false
> messagebus:x:81:81:User for D-BUS:/var/run/dbus:/bin/false
> haldaemon:x:82:82:User for HAL:/var/run/hald:/bin/false
> pop:x:90:90:POP:/:/bin/false
> nobody:x:99:99:nobody:/:/bin/false

group

11.0 -> 12.0
29a30,34
> apache:x:80:
> messagebus:x:81:
> haldaemon:x:82:
> plugdev:x:83:
> power:x:84:

ChangeLog

Mon May 28 20:03:53 CDT 2007
a/etc-11.1-noarch-6.tgz:  Added power (84) group to /etc/group.
  Added haldaemon (82) user to /etc/passwd, group to /etc/group, and empty
  shadow line to /etc/shadow.
+--------------------------+
Sat May 19 15:49:00 CDT 2007
a/etc-11.1-noarch-5.tgz:  Added plugdev group (83).  Added apache user and
  group (80).
+--------------------------+
Tue May 15 21:50:17 CDT 2007
a/etc-11.1-noarch-4.tgz:  The lack of a shadow entry for "messagebus" was
  bothering some people, so it was added (but it should make no difference).
+--------------------------+
Sat Mar 17 19:14:35 CDT 2007
a/etc-11.1-noarch-1.tgz:
  Added messagebus uid/gid (81).

12.0 -> 12.1

passwd

16c16
< mysql:x:27:27:MySQL:/var/lib/mysql:/bin/bash
---
> mysql:x:27:27:MySQL:/var/lib/mysql:/bin/false

group

All the group entries now have :x:.

1,29c1,30
< root::0:root
< bin::1:root,bin,daemon
< daemon::2:root,bin,daemon
< sys::3:root,bin,adm
< adm::4:root,adm,daemon
< tty::5:
< disk::6:root,adm
< lp::7:lp
< mem::8:
< kmem::9:
< wheel::10:root
< floppy::11:root
< mail::12:mail
< news::13:news
< uucp::14:uucp
< man::15:
< audio::17:
< video::18:
< cdrom::19:
< games::20:
< slocate::21:
< utmp::22:
< smmsp::25:smmsp
< mysql::27:
< rpc::32:
< sshd::33:sshd
< gdm::42:
< shadow::43:
< ftp::50:
---
> root:x:0:root
> bin:x:1:root,bin
> daemon:x:2:root,bin,daemon
> sys:x:3:root,bin,adm
> adm:x:4:root,adm,daemon
> tty:x:5:
> disk:x:6:root,adm
> lp:x:7:lp
> mem:x:8:
> kmem:x:9:
> wheel:x:10:root
> floppy:x:11:root
> mail:x:12:mail
> news:x:13:news
> uucp:x:14:uucp
> man:x:15:
> audio:x:17:root
> video:x:18:root
> cdrom:x:19:root
> games:x:20:
> slocate:x:21:
> utmp:x:22:
> smmsp:x:25:smmsp
> tape:x:26:root
> mysql:x:27:
> rpc:x:32:
> sshd:x:33:sshd
> gdm:x:42:
> shadow:x:43:
> ftp:x:50:
33c34
< plugdev:x:83:
---
> plugdev:x:83:root
35,40c36,41
< pop::90:pop
< scanner::93:
< nobody::98:nobody
< nogroup::99:
< users::100:
< console::101:
---
> pop:x:90:pop
> scanner:x:93:
> nobody:x:98:nobody
> nogroup:x:99:
> users:x:100:
> console:x:101:

ChangeLog

Tue Apr  1 02:41:32 CDT 2008
a/etc-12.1-noarch-4.tgz:  Give the mysql user a /bin/false "shell".
  Thanks to Noel for the suggestion.
+--------------------------+
Fri Mar 28 23:35:22 CDT 2008
a/etc-12.1-noarch-3.tgz:  Installed root into the audio, cdrom, video, plugdev,
  and floppy groups _correctly_.  This was noticed by a lot of people -- sorry
  for the bogus entries in there before.  I don't know how I managed that.
  (easily  ;-)
+--------------------------+
Wed Mar 26 00:21:34 CDT 2008
a/etc-12.1-noarch-2.tgz:  Add root to the groups audio, cdrom, video, plugdev, 
  and floppy.  Root already has access to most of these devices, but it doesn't
  hurt to provide an example for people who edit /etc/groups manually.
+--------------------------+
Tue Oct 16 14:51:30 CDT 2007
a/etc-12.1-noarch-1.tgz:  Added "tape" group.

12.1 -> 12.2

No changes.

12.2 -> 13.0

passwd

19a20
> oprofile:x:51:51:oprofile:/:/bin/false

group

16a17
> dialout:x:16:uucp
30a32
> oprofile:x:51:
35c37,38
< power:x:84:
---
> power:x:84:root
> netdev:x:86:root
37c40
< scanner:x:93:
---
> scanner:x:93:root

ChangeLog

Sun Aug 23 02:32:16 CDT 2009
a/etc-13.0-i486-2.txz:
  Ensure that groups added through the install script have "root" as
  members where appropriate.
+--------------------------+
Tue Aug 11 01:04:25 CDT 2009
a/etc-13.0-noarch-1.txz:  Upgraded.
  Added root to power, netdev, and scanner groups in /etc/group.
+--------------------------+
Mon Apr 20 23:38:45 CDT 2009
a/etc-12.34567890-noarch-3.tgz:  Added the uucp user to the dialout group.
+--------------------------+
Tue Mar 24 14:00:54 CDT 2009
a/etc-12.34567890-noarch-2.tgz:  Fix missing :x: for oprofile in /etc/passwd.
+--------------------------+
Mon Mar  9 21:25:51 CDT 2009
a/etc-12.34567890-noarch-1.tgz:  Added uid 51 (oprofile), gid 16 (dialout),
  gid 51 (oprofile), and gid 86 (netdev).

13.0 -> 13.1

passwd

No changes.

group

12c12
< floppy:x:11:root
---
> floppy:x:11:
18,20c18,20
< audio:x:17:root
< video:x:18:root
< cdrom:x:19:root
---
> audio:x:17:
> video:x:18:
> cdrom:x:19:
25c25
< tape:x:26:root
---
> tape:x:26:
36,38c36,38
< plugdev:x:83:root
< power:x:84:root
< netdev:x:86:root
---
> plugdev:x:83:
> power:x:84:
> netdev:x:86:
40c40
< scanner:x:93:root
---
> scanner:x:93:

ChangeLog

Mon Mar  1 22:43:53 UTC 2010
a/etc-13.013-i486-1.txz:  Rebuilt.
  Removed root from several groups in /etc/group where the group is only used
  for root-owned files anyway.  Updated /etc/services.

13.1 -> 13.37

No changes.

13.37 -> 14.0

No changes.

14.1 -> 14.2

passwd

19c19
< gdm:x:42:42:GDM:/var/state/gdm:/bin/bash
---
> gdm:x:42:42:GDM:/var/lib/gdm:/sbin/nologin
20a21,23
> usbmux:x:52:83:User for usbmux daemon:/var/empty:/bin/false
> sddm:x:64:64:User for SDDM:/var/empty:/bin/false
> pulse:x:65:65:User for PulseAudio:/var/run/pulse:/bin/false
23a27
> polkitd:x:87:87:PolicyKit daemon owner:/var/lib/polkit:/bin/false

group

18c18
< audio:x:17:
---
> audio:x:17:root,pulse
32a33,35
> sddm:x:64:
> pulse:x:65:
> input:x:71:
38a42
> polkitd:x:87:

ChangeLog

Wed Jun 22 21:56:53 UTC 2016
a/etc-14.2-i586-7.txz:  Rebuilt.
  Added root to the audio group.
+--------------------------+
Sat Mar 26 23:20:34 UTC 2016
a/etc-14.2-i586-6.txz:  Rebuilt.
  Added polkitd user (UID 87) and group (GID 87).
+--------------------------+
Wed Jan 13 00:01:23 UTC 2016
a/etc-14.2-i586-5.txz:  Rebuilt.
  Added user (pulse) and group (pulse) for PulseAudio.
  Added pulse user to the audio group.
+--------------------------+
Fri Nov 20 05:25:18 UTC 2015
a/etc-14.2-i586-4.txz:  Rebuilt.
  Added input group, GID 71.
  Added SDDM user/group, UID 64, GID 64.
+--------------------------+
Tue Apr 21 23:44:00 UTC 2015
a/etc-14.2-i486-1.txz:  Upgraded.
  Added usbmux user to /etc/passwd.