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)
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