[CentOS] /etc/passwd.rpmnew changes "x" to "*"

Sat Jun 28 05:41:17 UTC 2008
John R Pierce <pierce at hogranch.com>

Matt Seitz (matseitz) wrote:
> What would be the effect of changing the password field in "/etc/passwd" from "x" to "*"?  I noticed I have an "/etc/passwd.rpmnew" file which changes the password of many service accounts from "x" to "*".  I am wondering if I should merge those changes into my "/etc/passwd" file.
>   

* tells it to look in /etc/shadow, where I'd expect you would find said 
"x" for no login.