rlm_unix(5)

rlm_unix5

Freeradius module

Overview

The rlm_unix module reads crypt(3) passwords from the system password file, and allows the server to use them for authentication. The module also provides FreeRADIUS an interface into a radwtmp file (used by "radlast") when added to the accounting section.

The rlm_unix module should be listed in the "authenticate" section. Please see the default radiusd.conf shipped with the server for an example of the correct usage of this module.

As of FreeRADIUS 1.1.0, the module no longer reads, or caches /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or /etc/group. If you wish to cache those files, see rlm_passwd. Most, if not all, configurations should not need those files to be cached.

The main configuration items to be aware of are:

radwtmp

The path to the system wtmp file to be used for keeping the database of online users as read by the 'radlast' program.

Configuration

modules {
  ...
  unix {
    radwtmp = ${logdir}/radwtmp
  }
  ...
}

Sections

authentication, accounting

Files

/etc/raddb/radiusd.conf,

Releases

12 releases since Debian 3.1 (Sarge); the text changed 4 times.

  1. 3.1–4.0
  2. 5.0–8
  3. 9
  4. 10–13
  5. Arch

Authors

Chris Parker, [email protected]

From freeradius 3.2.10-4 in Arch Linux 2026-11-01. Parsed by carta from the page's man source.