Re: test if user exists in postinst

[Josip Rodin <joy@cibalia.gkvk.hr>]

On Mon, Apr 09, 2001 at 06:01:08PM -0400, Matt Zimmerman wrote:
> > I am cleaning up my packages, and one improvement
> > I want to add is that network daemon runs under its
> > own UID, not nobody (as it was until now).
> > 
> > What is the best way of testing (and adding) a new username
> > in postinst?
> > 
> > I am using something like this:
> > if ! grep -q '^xtelld:' /etc/passwd; then 
> >     adduser --quiet --system --no-create-home --disabled-password --home /tmp --gecos "xtell daemon" xtelld
> > fi
> > 
> > the test for already existing user is not ideal, since 
> > users can be stored somewhere else (ldap, nis,...)
> 
> Try testing the exit code of 'id -u <user>'.  That should work anywhere. 
> Or, rewrite your maintainer script in perl and use getpwnam().

Anything else that uses getpwnam() would work :) for example, exit code of
`getent passwd <user>`.

-- 
Digital Electronic Being Intended for Assassination and Nullification