OSX Cmd: Change Your Shell

Mac OS X Leopard root shell default is, /bin/sh. My favourite is /bin/bash. Tried to change from /bin/sh to /bin/bash by editing /etc/passwd but it's not working. When su to root either via terminal or SSH remotely it's still used /etc/sh. Search for usermod command to change shell, as I always doing with others *NIX , but so far I couldn't find either usermod, useradd and userdel command on Mac OS X Leopard at all. Dang!!! Almost a week like a mad cat tried to figure out, at last found chsh command.

The chsh utility allows editing of the user database information associated with user or, by default, the current user. Type in below command to change your shell.

$ sudo chsh root

It will prompt you for password. Just put in your password.

Changing shell for root.
Password for root:

Then it will open up vi with below information. Move to 'Shell:/bin/sh line', and then press I to enter insert mode. Delete sh and replace it with bash. Then press , enter :wq and press to save file and quit. 

# Changing user information for root.
# Use "passwd" to change the password.
##
# Open Directory: /Local/Default
##
Login: root
Uid [#]: 0
Gid [# or name]: 0
Generated uid: FFFFEEEE-DDDD-CCCC-BBBB-AAAA00000000
Home directory: /var/root
Shell: /bin/sh
Full Name: System Administrator
Office Location:
Office Phone:
Home Phone:

Issue below command to check root default shell, it should return you /bin/bash.

 

$ sudo echo $SHELL
Password:
/bin/bash