Hello, pam-list... Could someone detail how to tell PAM/passwd to obey the wishes of the user in setting their new password, no matter how many rules, regulations, or religions they're violating? I've got a number of professionals here - old timers, even - who are astounded that the passwd program is refusing to allow them to change from one well-chosen password to another well-chosen password simply because the two are "too similiar". I'm going to go out on a limb and recommend that all of the algorithms assessing whether passwords are too short, long, similar, or whatever be used to INFORM the user that what they're doing might not be a good idea, but that they should never, ever, ever arbitrarily decide - for ALL users ever changing their passwords - to refuse to obey those users wishes. Consider: "That's a really bad idea - do you insist? [y/n]" If only we could apply this "protect the user from themselves" mentality to the "rm" program... Best, -Paul B. Reiber, Jr.
