> Okay, step by step.
>
> 1) In order to use 2.2.x, I have to update a plethora of system
> utilities.
No you don't. The kernel maintains compatibility with user-space
utilities. Just install the new kernel. You might need some new
tools to build it if your system is very, very old. Look at
.../linux/Documentation/Changes.
>
> 2) Among them, the ones included in util-linux (including login, passwd
> and others).
>
Util-linux provides a new version of mount and mkswap to overcome some
earlier limitations. There are other tools, also. You can continue to
use your existing tools if you don't need some special functionality.
In other words, you don't overwrite/replace stuff for no reason.
> 3) The util-linux README (newest version) says it doesn't support shadow
> paswords! (Using /etc/passwd is not acceptable for me.)
>
Shadow passwords are, and always have been, a separate user-space
facility.
> 4) I could install, over util-linux, the Shadow Password Suite found at
>
> ftp://i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl/pub/linux/shadow
>
This is the current site.
> but is it safe? There's a July 98 version deemed stable, and a December
> 98 version deemed "development". None of them ever mentions kernel 2.2
> or the newest version of util-linux.
>
> What do I do?
>
> And what's the reasoning behind not supporting shadow passwords in
> util-linux?
>
Shadow passwords are a user-level facility that has nothing at all
to do with the kernel nor its maintenance. I believe that shadow
passwords were (are) a Sun idea that has been adapted to many
SYSV systems, including Linux.
Cheers,
Dick Johnson
***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****
Penguin : Linux version 2.2.1 on an i686 machine (400.59 BogoMips).
Warning : It's hard to remain at the trailing edge of technology.
Wisdom : It's not a Y2K problem. It's a Y2Day problem.
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