Setting up a new user - Linux or Unix
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2008-03-26 15:54:22 - Graham EllisCreating a local user account on a Linux box:
1. Add an entry to /etc/passwd
2. Add an entry to /etc/shadow
3. Add an entry to /etc/group IF the user is in a new group
4. Use the passwd command to set the user's password
5. Create the user's home directory
6. Change the ownership of the user's home directory via the chown command
7. Login as the new user to check that the account works
8. Create a file via the new user's account to check he/she has write permission
9. Copy over any templates and startup files
10. Let the user know the account has been set up
The useradd command (adduser on Solaris) can take many steps out of this, and is also helpful if you're setting up an account that's to be shared between a number of Linux / Unix boxes.
As summarised on todays Linux Admin course