Linux chage Command: Manage Password Expiration and User Accounts

The chage command in Linux deals with user account expiration. The expirations are recorded in the /etc/shadow file.

Its options are:

-E date: Sets the expiration date in year, month, and day format

(YYYY-MM-DD). If "-1" (minus 1) is provided, it will remove the account expiration date.

• -l: Lists the user account settings. This option can be used by any user.
• -d N or YYYY-MM-DD: Sets the number N of days since the last password modification from 01/01/1970. It also accepts a date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• -E N or YYYY-MM-DD: Sets number N of days when the account will be disabled since 01/01/1970. It also accepts a date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• -I N: Sets the number N of days of inactivity after password expiration when the account will be disabled.
• -m N: Sets the minimum number N of days a password is valid. A zero value allows the user to change the password at any time.
• -M N: Sets the maximum number N of days a password is valid, forcing the user to change it.
• -W N: Sets the number N of days when a warning will be given to the user before the password change.

The default parameter definitions for user accounts are in the /etc/login.defs file

Example:

# chage –E 2016-05-23 cristiane

The chage command can also operate interactively, just informing the user account without any option:

# chage arthur Changing the aging information for arthurEnter the new value, or press ENTER for the default	Minimum Password Age [0]: 10	Maximum Password Age [99999]: 60	Last Password Change (YYYY-MM-DD) [2019-10-17]: 	Password Expiration Warning [7]: 7	Password Inactive [-1]: 10	Account Expiration Date (YYYY-MM-DD) [2019-10-31]: 2019-10-31

Account expiration information can be viewed with the "-l" option of the command.

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