OS Manuals

/usr/bin/htdbm

Apache HTTP Server (utilities)

From apache2-utils 2.4.70-r0 (os), captured 2026-11-07 by running htdbm --help (exit 2). permalink

htdbm -- program for manipulating DBM password databases.

Usage: htdbm   [-cimBdpstvx] [-C cost] [-TDBTYPE] database username
                -b[cmBdptsv] [-C cost] [-TDBTYPE] database username password
                -n[imBdpst]  [-C cost] username
                -nb[mBdpst]  [-C cost] username password
                -v[imBdps]   [-C cost] [-TDBTYPE] database username
                -vb[mBdps]   [-C cost] [-TDBTYPE] database username password
                -x                     [-TDBTYPE] database username
                -l                     [-TDBTYPE] database
Options:
   -c   Create a new database.
   -n   Don't update database; display results on stdout.
   -b   Use the password from the command line rather than prompting for it.
   -i   Read password from stdin without verification (for script usage).
   -m   Force MD5 hashing of the password (default).
   -B   Force BCRYPT hashing of the password (very secure).
   -C   Set the computing time used for the bcrypt algorithm
        (higher is more secure but slower, default: 5, valid: 4 to 31).
   -d   Force CRYPT hashing of the password (8 chars max, insecure).
   -s   Force SHA hashing of the password (insecure).
   -p   Do not hash the password (plaintext, insecure).
   -T   DBM Type (SDBM|GDBM|DB|default).
   -l   Display usernames from database on stdout.
   -v   Verify the username/password.
   -x   Remove the username record from database.
   -t   The last param is username comment.
The SHA algorithm does not use a salt and is less secure than the MD5 algorithm.
Options (18)
OptionDescriptionSource
-n imBdpstDisplay the results on standard output rather than updating a database.help + man
-nb mBdpst[-C cost] username passwordhelp
-v imBdps[-C cost] [-TDBTYPE] database usernamehelp + man
-vb mBdps[-C cost] [-TDBTYPE] database username passwordhelp
-x[-TDBTYPE] database usernamehelp + man
-lPrint each of the usernames and comments from the database on stdout.help + man
-cCreate a new database.help + man
-bUse the password from the command line rather than prompting for it.help + man
-iRead the password from stdin without verification (for script usage).help + man
-mForce MD5 hashing of the password (default).help + man
-BForce BCRYPT hashing of the password (very secure).help + man
-CSet the computing time used for the bcrypt algorithm (higher is more secure but slower, default: 5, valid: 4 to 31).help + man
-dForce CRYPT hashing of the password (8 chars max, insecure).help + man
-sForce SHA hashing of the password (insecure).help + man
-pDo not hash the password (plaintext, insecure).help + man
-TDBM Type (SDBM|GDBM|DB|default).help
-tInterpret the final parameter as a comment.help + man
-TDBTYPEType of DBM file (SDBM, GDBM, DB, or "default"). (in the manual page but not in --help)man
Exit status (7) from the manual page
1it encounters some problem accessing files
2there was a syntax problem with the command line
3the password was entered interactively and the verification entry didn't match
4its operation was interrupted
5a value is too long (username
6the username contains illegal characters (see the Restrictions section)
7the file is not a valid DBM password file
Examples (3) from the manual page, untested

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.