There are four main user administration files:

  1. /etc/passwd: User accounts
  2. /etc/shadow: User password
    • !! means password does not exist
  3. /etc/group: Group information
  4. /etc/gshadow: Group passwords
  • useradd: -d→different home directory, -u→user id, -g→group id, -G→ multi group (secondary), -M→no home folder, -e→expiry, -c→comment, -s→custom shell, -f→password expire, -m create home directory

  • usermod: -c→comment, -d→modify home directory, -e→expiry, -g→primary group, -a→add to secondary group, -G→secondary group, -l→login name (username), -L→lock the account, -U unlock account, -d→default home dir, -schange shell, -r system account

  • userdel

  • groupadd: -f→force, -g→gid, -r→system group

  • groupmod: -g→new gid, -n→new name

  • groupdel

  • gpasswd: -a→add user, -d→delete user, -r→remove password & change password of a group (gpasswd groupname)

  • newgrp: Log in to a new group, change the gid