i just compiled mksh from sources, installed it in /opt/local. i tried using passwd -e to set it, but that errors out saying its unacceptable, editing /etc/passwd directly worked fine but im curious as to how to make it an acceptable shell

I think the bit here is what's found in the getusershell(3C) manual with the need to put something in it looks like an /etc/shells?

ah, i assumed that because there is no /etc/shells that file just wasnt used on illumos

thanks

No, it falls back to the built-in list defined in the manual.

You'll need to add the built-in ones you want as I think the presence of the file overrides all built-ins.

yeah i just noticed trying to test it

The getusershell() function opens the file /etc/shells, if it exists,

and returns the next entry in the list of shells. I feel like the wording implies it uses the built-in list first then uses whatevers in /etc/shells

maybe I'm confused

If you read the first paragraph of the description I thought that made the behavior fairly clear?

At least, it did for me. But certainly we can always make these things clearer.

it's mostly about using 'the list' when just having listed the built-in list, i think it tripped me up

anyway, works as expected now with the /etc/shells populated

also would be nice if passwd -e would accept an absolute path to a shell instead of having the prompt