Using usermod is better than directly modifying /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow because it also keeps /etc/security/ia/audit, index and master files up to date. Though index and master may be edited manually as they are plain ASCII text files, audit is a binary file with fixed-length fields.

<zigazou@libertysurf.fr> <mschalit@pacbell.net>
gerberb@zenez.com