Setting up a new user - Linux or Unix

For 2023 (and 2024 ...) - we are now fully retired from IT training.
We have made many, many friends over 25 years of teaching about Python, Tcl, Perl, PHP, Lua, Java, C and C++ - and MySQL, Linux and Solaris/SunOS too. Our training notes are now very much out of date, but due to upward compatability most of our examples remain operational and even relevant ad you are welcome to make us if them "as seen" and at your own risk.

Lisa and I (Graham) now live in what was our training centre in Melksham - happy to meet with former delegates here - but do check ahead before coming round. We are far from inactive - rather, enjoying the times that we are retired but still healthy enough in mind and body to be active!

I am also active in many other area and still look after a lot of web sites - you can find an index ((here))

Creating a local user account on a Linux box:

1. Add an entry to /etc/passwd
2. Add an entry to /etc/shadow
3. Add an entry to /etc/group IF the user is in a new group
4. Use the passwd command to set the user's password
5. Create the user's home directory
6. Change the ownership of the user's home directory via the chown command
7. Login as the new user to check that the account works
8. Create a file via the new user's account to check he/she has write permission
9. Copy over any templates and startup files
10. Let the user know the account has been set up

The useradd command (adduser on Solaris) can take many steps out of this, and is also helpful if you're setting up an account that's to be shared between a number of Linux / Unix boxes.

As summarised on todays Linux Admin course
(written 2008-03-26, updated 2008-03-27)

Associated topics are indexed as below, or enter http://melksh.am/nnnn for individual articles

A161 - Web Application Deployment - Users and Groups
  [409] Functions and commands with dangerous names - (2005-08-11)
  [431] File permissions of Linux and Unix systems - (2005-08-31)
  [683] Supporting users on Linux and Unix - (2006-04-13)
  [1619] User and Group settings for Apache httpd web server - (2008-04-22)
  [1650] Looking for files with certain characteristics (Linux / Unix) - (2008-05-22)
  [1773] The Longest Possible Day - (2008-08-26)
  [1902] sstrwxrwxrwx - Unix and Linux file permissions - (2008-11-23)
  [1904] Ruby, Perl, Linux, MySQL - some training notes - (2008-11-23)
  [2103] Ask the Tutor - Open Source forum - (2009-03-25)
  [2117] Choosing a railway station fairly in PHP - (2009-04-04)
  [2203] Always use su with minus. And where do programs come from? - (2009-05-27)
  [2301] Mistaken identity? - (2009-07-22)
  [2491] Root is root for a reason! - (2009-11-03)
  [2639] su or su - ... what is the difference? - (2010-02-17)
  [4045] Linux Web Server - User Roles, User Accounts, and shared administration - (2013-03-16)

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Some other Articles

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First Great Western Weekend
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Keep the client experience easy - single server contact point
Setting up a new user - Linux or Unix
Easter Sunday at 404, The Spa
All Change, Portsmouth Harbour
Dynamic Memory Allocation in C - calloc, realloc
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Some Ruby programming examples from our course

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This is a page archived from The Horse's Mouth at http://www.wellho.net/horse/ - the diary and writings of Graham Ellis. Every attempt was made to provide current information at the time the page was written, but things do move forward in our business - new software releases, price changes, new techniques. Please check back via our main site for current courses, prices, versions, etc - any mention of a price in "The Horse's Mouth" cannot be taken as an offer to supply at that price.

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