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Can the /etc/passwd file have a script instead of shell for login-shell on RedHat Enterprise Linux 6.4

On an older RedHat EL 4.6 server, /etc/passwd has a script instead of a shell in the login-shell field. This was for security reasons, so the user could not get into bash.
For example: user:x:520:501:comment:/home/:/usr/local/bin/online_users.sh

Is it possible to do on a Red Hat EL 6.4 server? I tried it, but the user gets access denied when she tries to log in. Do I need to set something else up? The user will always be using /bin/bash shell.

Steven Vona

If they do not have a shell they will not be able to log in.

How is the user logging in? Via SSH, GUI, SFTP??

penguins_rule

ASKER

If the online_users.sh exists in their /home directory, then it works.
I am having a problem with access control (acl) and permissions. So, I will see what happens once I get that straightened out.

To answer savone: The users log in using putty on a windows PC.

SOLUTION

Steven Vona

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SOLUTION

gheist

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penguins_rule

ASKER

Is it possible to change something in PAM auth to allow any shell?

SOLUTION

Harisha M G

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gheist

You can enter any program in /etc/shells

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

penguins_rule

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penguins_rule

ASKER

With information from the experts, I was able to come up with a way to do what i needed to do. Because I did not want to give them access to the shell, this was the method used.