Re: [ProgSoc] unix users

[Telford Tendys <telford@nospam.progsoc.uts.edu.au>]

> this sounds like silly question, but how do you create/manage users under
> unix (linux 2.0.29 to be exact)?
> 
> i've never had root access before, so this is really new to me :)

There's usually a script called `adduser' or something.

In more detail, you need to:
* think of a user ID number that no one else is using on your system
* use the same number for a group ID (for sanity)
* create a home directory
* add an entry to /etc/passwd mapping the user name to the user ID,
  this entry also gives the home directory and initial shell
* add an entry to /etc/group mapping the group name to the group ID
* copy some files into the home directory like .bash_profile and
  whatever else you think might be important.
* set the password from the root prompt with the passwd command

Well, that's about all there is to it.

Most linux systems give every user a group with the same name and
number as the user but you can group the users in whatever way you
like. Remember that multiple groups are possible so the possible
configurations that you might try is pretty limitless.

	- Tel
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