Managing Linux User Accounts
HERDING ACCOUNTS
The steps for setting up new accounts in Linux are automated and often use GUI-based tools. Under the hood, a number of mechanisms give the new user an environment to match his or her needs. In this month’s Admin Workshop we discuss techniques for setting up accounts.
With a modern Linux distribution, you just need a few clicks to create a new user account. Figure 1 shows you an example from Suse. GUI-based front-ends of this kind rely on command line programs such as adduser or useradd to do the heavy lifting. It is extremely important for administrators to know exactly what goes on when they create a user account. Automated features can be tailored to meet the requirements in your environment. When you create an account, a number of databases need the new user’s details. Users will typically need a home directory and write privileges to match. Administrators don’t just throw their users in at the deep end when it comes to program settings; instead, many settings are pre-configured. Of course, it is impossible to take every setting into account when creating new users, especially if the user will not be logging in until some time in the distant future.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Tag Cloud
News
-
Heartbleed Bleeds On
According to a report, many potential victims of the Heartbleed attack have patched their systems, but few have cleaned up the crime scene to protect themselves from the effects of a previous intrusion.
-
Drone Brain Goes Open Source
DARPA and NICTA release the code for the ultra-secure microkernel system used in aerial drones.
-
Password Management Services Vulnerable to Attack
Should you trust an online service to store your online passwords?
-
New Raspberry Pi Adds Two USB Ports
New B+ board lets you build cool things without the complication of a powered USB hub.
-
Microsoft Grabs No-IP.com Domains
Redmond rushes in to root out alleged malware haven.
-
Firefox Steps into 3D
New initiative will bring futuristic virtual reality effects to the web surfing experience.
-
New Trojan Targets Online Banking
Dyreza malware launches a man-in-the-middle attack that compromises SSL.
-
HP Rolls Out Massive Cloud Network
New cloud combines worldwide access with local attention to data security.
-
New Attack Targets Wireless Logins
A first cousin of the recent Heartbleed attack affects EAP-based wireless and peer-to-peer authentication.
-
Geeks Petition for Free Lenovo BIOS
FOSS community acts to protect freedom of choice for laptop devices.