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So, you just spun up a Linux machine (maybe on a VM or in the cloud), and now you want to act like a sysadmin.
Oh just me? Well, I'm here to humble us both because there's a long road ahead...
Still, one of the first things you'll need to know is how to manage users like a pro.
Let's dive into some essential commands: useradd, passwd, su, and userdel.
Think of these commands as your User Control Panel ... but Super Powered, no need for that GUI stuff. ?
? Table of Contents
? useradd – Create New Users
useradd is like the “Create Account” option in Windows, but with style.
Basic Syntax:
sudo useradd [options] username
Common Options:
Example:
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash -c "Web Developer" alice
? passwd – Set or Change User Passwords
Syntax:
sudo passwd username
Example:
sudo passwd alice
? su – Switch User
Syntax:
su - username
Example:
su - alice
? Note: You can use sudo su - to become root, but tread carefully, with great power comes great responsibility... though let’s be real, Peter Parker probably isn't reading this, ?️ So maybe just steer clear unless you really know what you're doing!
? userdel – Delete Users
Syntax:
sudo userdel [options] username
Common Options:
Example:
sudo userdel -r alice
? Pro Tips
cat /etc/passwd
grep <username> /etc/passwd
groups <username>
cat /etc/group
grep <groupname> /etc/group
sudo usermod [options] username
? Note: usermod is a powerful command with lots of options, enough to deserve its own article! From changing usernames to assigning new shells or managing group memberships, it’s a whole-nother rabbit hole. Stay tuned, maybe I'll cover that later.
? Quick Windows Comparison
? Wrapping Up
That’s your crash course on user management! Whether you're building out a secure dev server or managing a personal VM, these commands are must-know tools in your Linux toolkit.
Have fun managing users responsibly. ?
? Let’s Connect
Oh just me? Well, I'm here to humble us both because there's a long road ahead...
Still, one of the first things you'll need to know is how to manage users like a pro.
Let's dive into some essential commands: useradd, passwd, su, and userdel.
Think of these commands as your User Control Panel ... but Super Powered, no need for that GUI stuff. ?
? Table of Contents
- Create New Users (useradd)
- Set Passwords (passwd)
- Switch Users (su)
- Delete Users (userdel)
- Pro Tips
- Windows Comparison
- Wrapping Up
? useradd – Create New Users
useradd is like the “Create Account” option in Windows, but with style.
Basic Syntax:
sudo useradd [options] username
Common Options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| -m | Create the user’s home directory |
| -d /custom/home | Set a custom home directory |
| -s /bin/bash | Set the user’s default shell |
| -u UID | Assign a specific user ID |
| -g groupname | Set the user’s primary group |
| -G group1,group2 | Add the user to supplementary groups |
| -e YYYY-MM-DD | Set account expiration date |
| -c "Comment" | Add a user description |
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash -c "Web Developer" alice
? passwd – Set or Change User Passwords
Syntax:
sudo passwd username
Example:
sudo passwd alice
? su – Switch User
Syntax:
su - username
Example:
su - alice
? Note: You can use sudo su - to become root, but tread carefully, with great power comes great responsibility... though let’s be real, Peter Parker probably isn't reading this, ?️ So maybe just steer clear unless you really know what you're doing!
? userdel – Delete Users
Syntax:
sudo userdel [options] username
Common Options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| -r | Remove the user’s home directory and mail spool |
sudo userdel -r alice
? Pro Tips
- Want to see all user and system accounts?
cat /etc/passwd
- Want to check details for a specific user?
grep <username> /etc/passwd
- Want to see what groups a specific user belongs to?
groups <username>
- Want to check group membership or definitions?
cat /etc/group
- Or filter for a specific group:
grep <groupname> /etc/group
- Need to modify an existing user (like changing their shell or adding them to groups)?
sudo usermod [options] username
? Note: usermod is a powerful command with lots of options, enough to deserve its own article! From changing usernames to assigning new shells or managing group memberships, it’s a whole-nother rabbit hole. Stay tuned, maybe I'll cover that later.
? Quick Windows Comparison
| Windows Action | Linux Command |
|---|---|
| Add a new user (GUI) | useradd -m username |
| Change password (Ctrl+Alt+Del) | passwd username |
| Switch user (Start > Switch user) | su - username |
| Delete user | userdel -r username |
? Wrapping Up
That’s your crash course on user management! Whether you're building out a secure dev server or managing a personal VM, these commands are must-know tools in your Linux toolkit.
Have fun managing users responsibly. ?
? Let’s Connect