Introduction

Managing local users and groups is an essential aspect of system administration. Understanding the commands used to create, modify, and delete users and groups is crucial. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to the commands used for local user and group management.

User Management

Creating a New User

Use the useradd command to create a new user. The basic syntax is:

useradd [options] username

• -d: Specifies the user’s home directory.
• -m: Creates the user’s home directory if it doesn’t exist.
• -s: Sets the user’s default shell.

Modifying a User

Use the usermod command to modify an existing user. The basic syntax is:

usermod [options] username

• -l: Changes the username.
• -d: Changes the user’s home directory.
• -s: Changes the user’s default shell.

Deleting a User

Use the userdel command to delete a user. The basic syntax is:

userdel username

Group Management

Creating a New Group

Use the groupadd command to create a new group. The basic syntax is:

groupadd groupname

Modifying a Group

Use the groupmod command to modify an existing group. The basic syntax is:

groupmod [options] groupname

• -n: Changes the group name.

Deleting a Group

Use the groupdel command to delete a group. The basic syntax is:

groupdel groupname

Conclusion

The commands discussed in this article provide comprehensive control over local user and group management. By understanding and utilizing these commands effectively, system administrators can efficiently add, modify, and remove users and groups, maintaining the integrity and security of their systems.