Linux Administration - Accounts

[top] User accounts

Files /etc/passwd - Password file /etc/shadow - Shadow password file /etc/skel - Skeleton home directory templates /etc/profile, /etc/profile.d - global, login settings /etc/bashrc, /etc/bash.bashrc - global, non-login settings ~/.bash_login, ~/.profile, ~/.bash_profile - user, login settings ~/.bash_logout - user, logout settings ~/.bashrc - user, non-login settings ~/.inputrc - user, keyboard settings
Commands useradd -d /home/[user_name] -m /etc/skel [user_name] Add a user, creating his home directory and using the specified skel template.

usermod [user_name] Modify existing user account.

userdel [user_name] Delete user account.

passwd [user_name] Change user's password.

chage [user_name] Set user account expiration policy.

pwconv Converts regular passwords to shadow passwords.

pwunconv Converts shadow passwords back to regular passwords.

pwck Checks integrity of /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow files.


[top] Group accounts

Files /etc/group - Group file /etc/gshadow - Shadow group file
Commands groupadd [group_name] Add group.

groupmod [group_name] Modify group.

groupdel [group_name] Delete group.

gpasswd [group_name] Change group's password.

grpconv Converts regular group passwords to shadow passwords.

grpunconv Converts shadow group passwords back to regular group passwords.

grpck Checks integrity of /etc/group and /etc/gshadow files.