Password Length Limit in Knoppix

[sakiZ]

I've been reading an article about the newest rage in Windoze security: password phrases. Passwords are out. Pass phrases are in at M$.

Pass phrases are very easy to remember and can be pretty long without too much extra typing hassle.

I was wondering what the length limit is on a pass phrase in Knoppix?

Does it do spaces? (I'm at work right now, otherwise I'd test it)

sakiZ

[Markus]

Have you read this: http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/securing-debian-howto/ch3.en.html#s3.4

I don't personally use spaces in linux, never, ever. If something needs a char between words I use an underscore.

[sakiZ]

I can see the logic of not using spaces. A dead give away word separator.

OK, I read about MD5. I don't recall this in the Knoppix install.

Is it an add on utility?

sakiZ

[Markus]

md5 is something you should activate as it increases the significant characters in your password to more than 8. All explained in that link a lot better than I could do.
In a nutshell, say you have the following passwd: goodpass£TFJ8-#:
Without md5 only the first 8 chars would be used and "goodpass" isn't really a good password ;)