From: "M. Edward (Ed) Borasky" <znmeb@...>
Date: 2007-07-23T11:59:47+09:00
Subject: Re: Using expect.rb to change a user's password in UNIX

Victor Reyes wrote:
> Hello World,
> 
> Today, I used a Korn Shell script and the UNIX version of expect to
> change a
> user password remotely.
> I would like to use the ruby.rb library to do the same.
> For instance, when you type, in UNIX,
> 
> passwd username
> It comes back asking to enter the PW.
> Once you enter it, it comes back asking you to enter it again.
> 
> How do I do this using the ruby expect.rb library?
> 
> We use this to change a userid on multiple systems at the same time.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Victor
> 
If the systems on which the passwords are to be changed are Linux, there
is a "batch password change utility" called "chpasswd". So your Ruby
script can simply encrypt the passwords, generate an input file to
"chpasswd", and execute "chpasswd" as "root".