Can login shell for the sync/halt/shutdown user in passwd be safely changed to /sbin/nologin ?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • Can login shell for the sync/halt and shutdown user in /etc/passwd be safely changed to /sbin/nologin (for a stronger security posture)?
  • Why does a separate user sync exist in the /etc/passwd file?
  • What is the purpose of the sync user in the /etc/passwd file?

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Subscriber exclusive content

A Red Hat subscription provides unlimited access to our knowledgebase of over 48,000 articles and solutions.

Current Customers and Partners

Log in for full access

Log In

New to Red Hat?

Learn more about Red Hat subscriptions

Close

Welcome! Check out the Getting Started with Red Hat page for quick tours and guides for common tasks.