Since I started using Linux, I've used the same username, "hal", for
logging in. With Sarge this was no problem since, somehow, it adapted
for the actual hal programs. The first problem I had with it was with
Ubuntu, but I got by that by just upgrading my old install instead of
making a new one.

I installed Etch on a computer for my Mother today and it wouldn't allow
me to use "hal." On all my email accounts and other accounts on all
the systems I deal with, I've always used the name "hal," but now it's
not allowed.

Is there a way around this? Can I get my name back? It seems
shortsighted to create systems that create a username like this. It's
not as common as john or jane, but it's a well known name that it seems
likely people would be using to log in with.

Thanks for any ideas.

Hal


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On 08/19/07 20:23, Hal Vaughan wrote:
> Since I started using Linux, I've used the same username, "hal", for
> logging in. With Sarge this was no problem since, somehow, it adapted
> for the actual hal programs. The first problem I had with it was with
> Ubuntu, but I got by that by just upgrading my old install instead of
> making a new one.
>
> I installed Etch on a computer for my Mother today and it wouldn't allow
> me to use "hal." On all my email accounts and other accounts on all
> the systems I deal with, I've always used the name "hal," but now it's
> not allowed.
>
> Is there a way around this? Can I get my name back? It seems
> shortsighted to create systems that create a username like this. It's
> not as common as john or jane, but it's a well known name that it seems
> likely people would be using to log in with.

$ grep hal /etc/passwd
haldaemon:x:110:116:Hardware abstraction layer\
,,,:/var/run/hal:/bin/false

But I just tried to add user "hal" on my Sid system and it let me.

- --
Ron Johnson, Jr.
Jefferson LA USA

Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day.
Hit him with a fish, and he goes away for good!

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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On 08/19/07 20:23, Hal Vaughan wrote:
> Since I started using Linux, I've used the same username, "hal", for
> logging in. With Sarge this was no problem since, somehow, it adapted
> for the actual hal programs. The first problem I had with it was with
> Ubuntu, but I got by that by just upgrading my old install instead of
> making a new one.
>
> I installed Etch on a computer for my Mother today and it wouldn't allow
> me to use "hal." On all my email accounts and other accounts on all
> the systems I deal with, I've always used the name "hal," but now it's
> not allowed.
>
> Is there a way around this? Can I get my name back? It seems
> shortsighted to create systems that create a username like this. It's
> not as common as john or jane, but it's a well known name that it seems
> likely people would be using to log in with.

$ grep hal /etc/passwd
haldaemon:x:110:116:Hardware abstraction layer\
,,,:/var/run/hal:/bin/false

But I just tried to add user "hal" on my Sid system and it let me.

- --
Ron Johnson, Jr.
Jefferson LA USA

Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day.
Hit him with a fish, and he goes away for good!

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On Sun, Aug 19, 2007 at 09:23:45PM -0400, Hal Vaughan wrote:
> I installed Etch on a computer for my Mother today and it wouldn't allow
> me to use "hal." On all my email accounts and other accounts on all
> the systems I deal with, I've always used the name "hal," but now it's
> not allowed.

The hal user was previously used by the Hardware Abstraction Layer
daemon. Since 0.5.7.1-1 it's called haldaemon and since 0.5.7.1-2 the
old hal user is ensured to get removed in postinst of the package. So
the system should allow you to create this user.

> Is there a way around this? Can I get my name back? It seems
> shortsighted to create systems that create a username like this. It's
> not as common as john or jane, but it's a well known name that it seems
> likely people would be using to log in with.

Please verify you're running Etch/stable and your version of hal is
greater than 0.5.7.1-1, i.e. using dpkg -l hal. If it is, you can safely
remove any existing hal system user using deluser --system hal and
create your own.

That user, however, shouldn't have existed in the first place...

Cheers,
Franz

--
.''`. Franz Pletz <fpletz@franz-pletz.org> - http://franz-pletz.org/
: :' :
`. `' Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be
`- done, and why. Then do it. -- Robert A. Heinlein

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On Sunday 19 August 2007, Ron Johnson wrote:
> On 08/19/07 20:23, Hal Vaughan wrote:
> > Since I started using Linux, I've used the same username, "hal",
> > for logging in. With Sarge this was no problem since, somehow, it
> > adapted for the actual hal programs. The first problem I had with
> > it was with Ubuntu, but I got by that by just upgrading my old
> > install instead of making a new one.
> >
> > I installed Etch on a computer for my Mother today and it wouldn't
> > allow me to use "hal." On all my email accounts and other accounts
> > on all the systems I deal with, I've always used the name "hal,"
> > but now it's not allowed.
> >
> > Is there a way around this? Can I get my name back? It seems
> > shortsighted to create systems that create a username like this.
> > It's not as common as john or jane, but it's a well known name that
> > it seems likely people would be using to log in with.
>
> $ grep hal /etc/passwd
> haldaemon:x:110:116:Hardware abstraction layer\
> ,,,:/var/run/hal:/bin/false
>
> But I just tried to add user "hal" on my Sid system and it let me.

I'll check on her system tomorrow and see what shows up. Maybe they
changed the name but didn't take it from the screening list in the
install program.

If all else fails, maybe I'll just use hal9000 for everything. Then my
login name will match my license plates. ;-)


Hal


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On Sunday 19 August 2007, Franz Pletz wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 19, 2007 at 09:23:45PM -0400, Hal Vaughan wrote:
> > I installed Etch on a computer for my Mother today and it wouldn't
> > allow me to use "hal." On all my email accounts and other accounts
> > on all the systems I deal with, I've always used the name "hal,"
> > but now it's not allowed.
>
> The hal user was previously used by the Hardware Abstraction Layer
> daemon. Since 0.5.7.1-1 it's called haldaemon and since 0.5.7.1-2 the
> old hal user is ensured to get removed in postinst of the package. So
> the system should allow you to create this user.
>
> > Is there a way around this? Can I get my name back? It seems
> > shortsighted to create systems that create a username like this.
> > It's not as common as john or jane, but it's a well known name that
> > it seems likely people would be using to log in with.
>
> Please verify you're running Etch/stable and your version of hal is
> greater than 0.5.7.1-1, i.e. using dpkg -l hal. If it is, you can
> safely remove any existing hal system user using deluser --system hal
> and create your own.

I just downloaded the Etch Net install today and that was what I used.
I can double check it, but I followed the links to it from the main
page. Here's the link to the full CD:

http://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/debi...-i386-CD-1.iso

And here's the one to the net install:

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/...86-netinst.iso

I admit that I do miss the obvious at times, but isn't Etch 4.0r0?

> That user, however, shouldn't have existed in the first place...

I know it was on some other versions, but I'm glad to know it won't be a
long term issue.

It may seem small, but I'm sure anyone with experience will know what
kind of little niggling irritations can pop up in having to deal with a
different account name on some systems or services than on others.

Hal


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* Hal Vaughan <hal@thresholddigital.com> [2007 Aug 19 21:10 -0500]:
> I admit that I do miss the obvious at times, but isn't Etch 4.0r0?

Last week 4.0r1 was released. I don't know if updated CD/DVD images
are available, but with a properly configured sources.list aptitude
should upgrade the system.

- Nate >>

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