I can't change my password

[Kevin D. Clark]

"Derek Doucette" <derek at derek.homeunix.org> writes:

> I just created a new account on a redhat 8 box.  When I try to change the passwd I get the following error:
> #passwd derek
> Changing password for user derek.
> New password: 
> Retype new password: 
> passwd: User not known to the underlying authentication module

Can you show us the relevant lines from your /etc/passwd and
/etc/shadow files (warning:  please munge the second field of the
/etc/shadow entry before you send it to this list).  Can you show us
your /etc/nsswitch.conf file?  Are you using NIS, NIS+, LDAP, or
something else for authentication?  If so, please tell us about this.

Have you mucked around (read: changed) any password and/or PAM files
recently?  If so, please detail your changes.

Thanks,

--kevin
-- 
``It's not my goddamn PLANET, understand, MONKEY-BOY?''
  -- John Bigboote