How to Manage User Account Password Expiration Information

How to Manage User Account Password Expiration Information

In the realm of cybersecurity and user account management, it's crucial to keep tabs on password expiration information for enhanced security. One command that plays a vital role in this aspect is the chage command.

The chage command is utilized in Unix and Linux systems to list and modify password expiration details for user accounts. It allows system administrators to view when a user's password was last changed, when it will expire, and other related information.

To list password expiration information for a specific user account, you can use the command:

chage -l username

This command will display the current password expiration details for the user specified.

If you wish to modify the password expiration information, the chage command can also help with that. For example, if you want to set the maximum number of days before a user is required to change their password, you can use:

chage -M 90 username

This command sets the maximum number of days to 90 before the user must change their password.

By understanding and utilizing commands like chage, you can effectively manage password expiration information for user accounts, thereby enhancing the security of your system.