chsh(1)

NAME

   chsh - change login shell

SYNOPSIS

   chsh [options] [LOGIN]

DESCRIPTION

   The chsh command changes the user login shell. This determines the name
   of the user's initial login command. A normal user may only change the
   login shell for her own account; the superuser may change the login
   shell for any account.

OPTIONS

   The options which apply to the chsh command are:

   -h, --help
       Display help message and exit.

   -R, --root CHROOT_DIR
       Apply changes in the CHROOT_DIR directory and use the configuration
       files from the CHROOT_DIR directory.

   -s, --shell SHELL
       The name of the user's new login shell. Setting this field to blank
       causes the system to select the default login shell.

   If the -s option is not selected, chsh operates in an interactive
   fashion, prompting the user with the current login shell. Enter the new
   value to change the shell, or leave the line blank to use the current
   one. The current shell is displayed between a pair of [ ] marks.

NOTE

   The only restriction placed on the login shell is that the command name
   must be listed in /etc/shells, unless the invoker is the superuser, and
   then any value may be added. An account with a restricted login shell
   may not change her login shell. For this reason, placing /bin/rsh in
   /etc/shells is discouraged since accidentally changing to a restricted
   shell would prevent the user from ever changing her login shell back to
   its original value.

FILES

   /etc/passwd
       User account information.

   /etc/shells
       List of valid login shells.

   /etc/login.defs
       Shadow password suite configuration.

SEE ALSO

   chfn(1), login.defs(5), passwd(5).

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