---
name: "cvpasswd"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cvsup"
version: "16.1e-3"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cvpasswd"
---

# cvpasswd(1)

scramble passwords for CVSup authentication

## NAME

**cvpasswd** – scramble passwords for CVSup authentication

## SYNOPSIS

**cvpasswd** *clientName* *serverName*

## DESCRIPTION

The **cvpasswd** utility creates scrambled passwords for the **CVSup** server's authentication database.  It is invoked with a client name and a server name. *ClientName* is the name the client uses to gain access to the server.  By convention, e-mail addresses are used for all client names, e.g., ‘BillyJoe@FreeBSD.ORG’. Client names are case-insensitive.

*ServerName* is the name of the **CVSup** server which the client wishes to access.  By convention, it is the canonical fully-qualified domain name of the server, e.g., ‘CVSup.FreeBSD.ORG’. This must agree with the server's own idea of its name.  The name is case-insensitive.

To set up authentication for a given server, one must perform the following steps:

1. Obtain the official *serverName* from the administrator of the server or from some other source.

2. Choose an appropriate *clientName*. It should be in the form of a valid e-mail address, to make it easy for the server administrator to contact the user if necessary.

3. Choose an arbitrary secret *password*.

4. Run **cvpasswd**, and type in the *password* when prompted for it.  The utility will print out a line to send to the server administrator, and instruct you how to modify your $HOME*/.cvsup/auth* file.  You should use a secure channel to send the line to the server administrator.

Since $HOME*/.cvsup/auth* contains passwords, you should ensure that it is not readable by anyone except yourself.

## FILES

- $HOME*/.cvsup/auth*

  Authentication password file.

## SEE ALSO

[cvsup(1)](/cvsup/1.md), [cvsupd(8)](/cvsupd/8.md).

```
http://www.polstra.com/projects/freeware/CVSup/
```

## AUTHORS

John Polstra ⟨jdp@polstra.com⟩.