Does anyone one know, if I move the /etc/passwd, /etc/group, and the related shadow files from one Linux box to another, will that make the users and passwords from the old box work on the new one? I'm wondering if the encrypted passwords will get all messed up. Or, does anyone know of a more effective way of moving user accounts from one box to another while keeping the accounts and passwords in tact? Thanks.

AP

I don't recommend you do this. Use "useradd" to add the accounts from the old system to the new one. Then you can copy the encrypted password and replace it in the new /etc/shadow file.