Manage users and groups

From NewbieDOC

Contents

1 Gnome desktop

  • Applications -> System Tools -> Users and Groups

You will need the root password. There are two tabbed windows - one to manage users and one to manage groups. Operations are carried out by selecting items and clicking on buttons.

1.1 Users tab

The Add User button is available at any time. The other buttons are greyed out unless a user is selected first. The buttons are

  • Add User
  • Properties
  • Delete

1.1.1 Add User/Properties dialogue

Account tab
Basic Settings
Username:
Real Name:
Contact Information (optional)
Password
Set password by hand
Generate random password
Advanced tab
Advanced Settings
Main group:
Shell:
Home directory:
User ID:
Other Groups tab
Available groups: Add
User's groups: Remove

1.2 Groups tab

The Add Group button is available at any time. The other buttons are greyed out unless a group is selected first. The buttons are

  • Add Group
  • Properties
  • Delete

1.2.1 Add Group/Properties dialogue

Group Name:
Group ID:
All users: Add
Group members: delete

2 KDE desktop

  • KDE Main Menu -> System -> User Manager

You will need the root password. There are two tabbed windows - one to manage users and one to manage groups. Operations are selected from the User menu and the Group menu.

2.1 Users tab

Menu operations available include

  • User -> Add
  • User -> Edit
  • User -> Delete
  • User -> Set Password

2.1.1 User Add/Edit dialogue

User Info
User login:
Set Password...
User ID:
Full name:
Login shell:
Home folder:
(optional contact information)
Account disabled
Password Management
Groups
Groups
Set as primary
Account disabled

2.2 Groups tab

Menu operations available include

  • Group -> Add
  • Group -> Edit
  • Group -> Delete

2.2.1 Group Add/Edit dialogue

Group number:
Group name:
Users in group: Remove
Users NOT in group: Add


3 Any window manager (generic)

You can use either of the above tools by installing the gnome-system-tools package (Gnome tool) or the kuser package (KDE tool). Each package will also install all the relevant libraries, but not the whole desktop.

Alternatively, you can install the webmin package. Accept the defaults during installation. You will then need the root password to access webmin.

3.1 Run Webmin

Open a browser and visit this URL:

https://localhost:10000/

Log into webmin using the root username and password.

3.2 Manage users and groups

Click on the System tab and then Users and Groups.

System tab
Users and Groups

3.2.1 Create or delete

There are two tables - Local Users and Local Groups. At the top of each table there is a link that enables you to create new users or groups. Each entry in a table has a checklist box that enables you to select user(s) or group(s). There is a button at the bottom of each table that allows you to delete selected users or groups.

3.2.2 Edit

Each user or group has a link that enables you to edit details

User Details
Username
User ID
Real name
Home directory
Shell
Password
Password Options
Group Membership
Primary groups
Secondary groups

4 Commandline

Run these commands from a terminal or a terminal window as root. Read the man pages first. Eg to read the manual for adduser:

$ man adduser
adduser
add a new user
usermod
modify a user's details
deluser
delete a user
chfn
change a user's full name
chsh
change a user's shell
passwd
change a user's password
chage
change how or when a user's password expires
groups
displays the groups of a specified user
addgroup
add a new group
groupmod
modify a group's details
delgroup
delete a group

4.1 Examples

4.1.1 Add a user

# adduser junk
Adding user `junk'...
Adding new group `junk' (1005).
Adding new user `junk' (1005) with group `junk'.
Creating home directory `/home/junk'.
Copying files from `/etc/skel'
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Changing the user information for junk
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default
        Full Name []:
        Room Number []:
        Work Phone []:
        Home Phone []:
        Other []:
Is the information correct? [y/N] y
#

4.1.2 Delete a user

# deluser
Enter a username to remove: junk
Removing user `junk'...
done.
#

--Chris Lale 15:18, 31 January 2006 (CET)

Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2, unless otherwise stated.