Setting Up Group and User Databases

The UID and GID databases are a required part of any operating system that implements POSIX standards. These databases contain user identities to authorize user and system interaction.

User ID database (UID) in HPUID.PUB.SYS and HPUIDNX.PUB.SYS
Group ID database (GID) in HPGID.PUB.SYS and HPGIDNX.PUB.SYS

The databases are automatically created when you install or update to MPE/iX Release 4.5 or later. The databases are privileged files whose contents are not visible. As system manager, you need to be aware of their existence.

MPE/iX requires that all processes have an associated UID and GID. Each user is assigned a unique user ID (UID) which the system maintains. When a user logs on, MPE/iX uses the authenticated user.account logon string to query the databases for the UID and GID. The IDs are stored in a run-time process table.

If no entry is found in the UID database, MPE/iX checks whether the user has SM capability. If the user does not have a UID and does not have SM capability, the user cannot log on to the system.

Group ID




	NOTE: The term group in this context is distinct from an MPE group. To clarify, this document refers to groups under accounts as MPE groups.

The group database defines members of a file sharing group. The database also maps numerical group IDs to POSIX.1 group names in the file called HPGID.PUB.SYS. The GID is a unique number that identifies the group. MPE/iX automatically assigns a group ID when you create a new account unless you specify one. The group database is set up automatically when you install or update MPE/iX.

User ID

The user database maps numerical user IDs to login names in the file called HPUID.PUB.SYS. The UID is a unique number that identifies the user. MPE/iX automatically assigns a user ID when you create a new account or add a user unless you specify one.

Maintaining the group and user databases

It is not necessary to perform any special procedures to maintain the user and group databases. When you add, modify, or purge users, groups, and accounts, the user and group databases are modified accordingly. A utility called PXUTIL exists to provide version information and backdating capabilities.

PXUTIL

PXUTIL has been created to provide the commands VERSION, BACKDATE, and PURGE along with current commands of HELP, QUIT, and EXIT. The UPDATE command has been obsoleted due to the redesign of the UID/GID databases. The following describes these new commands:

VERSION

The VERSION command displays the versions of the database files, the number of valid records in the databases, and the next UID and GID numbers to be used.

   :PXUTIL.PUB.SYS

   PXUTIL> version



   UID DATABASE:

      HPUID.PUB.SYS Version:    A.01.00

      HPUIDNX.PUB.SYS Version:  A.01.00

      Valid Records:            368

      Uid Counter:              531



   GID DATABASE:

      HPGID.PUB.SYS Version:    A.01.00

      HPGIDNX.PUB.SYS Version:  A.01.00

      Valid Records:            122

      Gid Counter:              276

BACKDATE
The BACKDATE command purges the UID/GID databases for backdating purposes. The user information must be saved on tape first via :STORE;;DIRECTORY. A warning message to this effect is displayed with an option to cancel the process. The following example demonstrates this.
:PXUTIL.PUB.SYS PXUTIL> backdate You MUST do a :STORE ;;DIRECTORY BEFORE running this pre-backdating operation to preserve user information. Continue (Y/N)?
PURGE
The PURGE command purges old UID/GID database files created from a UID/GID system boot error (HPUIDOLD.PUB.SYS, HPUIDONX.PUB.SYS, HPGIDOLD.PUB.SYS, and HPGIDONX.PUB.SYS).
HELP
The HELP command displays instruction on the utility.
QUIT
The QUIT command exits the utility.
EXIT
The EXIT command exits the utility.

Setting Up Group and User Databases

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Group ID

User ID

Maintaining the group and user databases

PXUTIL