[Python-Dev] cygwin "test_pwd" failure on win98

[Jason Tishler]

Jeff,

On Tue, Jul 24, 2001 at 07:49:16AM -0500, Jeff Epler wrote:
> Once I generated a password file, using 
> 	mkpasswd.exe > /etc/passwd
> test_pwd.py seems to succeed as expected.

Thanks for tracking down the above.  When I release the next Cygwin
Python distribution, I will update the README with this new information.

However, I'm surprise that mkpasswd works under Windows 9x/Me.  IIRC,
it only works under Windows NT/2000.  Implying that if one desired a
passwd file on 9x/Me, then they had to create it by hand.  I do not have
a 9x/Me machine handy, so I cannot verify the current behavior.

> Strangely, the Cygnus install seems to have automatically generated the passwd
> file into /etc/group at install time, rather than into /etc/passwd.  In any
> case, this test failure is due to incorrect cygwin32 setup, not Python.

If the above is really true, then this is a bug in the current Cygwin
installer (i.e., setup.exe 2.78.2.3) and you should report this to the
Cygwin mailing list.  Note I just reran the current setup.exe under NT
and it generated valid passwd and group files.

Please look in /etc/postinstall.  Do you see a file called
passwd-grp.bat.done?  If so, then examining its content will determine
the commands that were automatically run during the install.  I would be
very interested in your findings.  My passwd-grp.bat.done contains the
following:

    bin\mkpasswd -l > etc\passwd
    bin\mkgroup -l > etc\group

BTW, the cygwin-apps or cygwin mailing list is a more appropriate
forum for a Cygwin Python discussion of this nature.

Thanks,
Jason

-- 
Jason Tishler
Director, Software Engineering       Phone: 732.264.8770 x235
Dot Hill Systems Corp.               Fax:   732.264.8798
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