How to Add and Remove Users on Ubuntu
Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions, offers robust user management tools that allow administrators to efficiently control access to the system. Whether you're setting up a new user account or removing an old one, understanding the process is crucial for maintaining a secure and organized environment. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps of adding and removing users on Ubuntu.
Adding Users
Create a New User
To add a new user, open a terminal window and use the adduser command. For example:
sudo adduser newusername
Follow the prompts to set a password and provide additional information if needed.
Grant Administrative Privileges
If you want to grant administrative privileges to the new user, add them to the sudo group:
sudo usermod -aG sudo newusername
This step allows the user to execute commands with elevated privileges.
Verify the New User
Log in as the new user to ensure the account was created successfully:
su - newusername
Removing Users
Remove User Account
To remove a user account, use the userdel command. This command only removes the user but leaves their home directory intact:
sudo userdel oldusername
Remove User Account and Home Directory
If you want to delete both the user account and its home directory, use the userdel command with the -r option:
sudo userdel -r oldusername
Additional User Management Tasks
Modify User Properties
Use the usermod command to modify user properties, such as the username, home directory, or shell:
sudo usermod -l newname oldname
Lock and Unlock User Accounts
Lock a user account to prevent login
sudo passwd -l username
Unlock a user account
sudo passwd -u username
View User Information
To display detailed information about a user, use the id command:
id username
Conclusion
Managing user accounts on Ubuntu is a fundamental skill for system administrators. Whether you are creating new users or cleaning up old accounts, the commands and steps outlined in this guide provide a solid foundation for effective user management. By following these practices, you can ensure a secure and organized Ubuntu system tailored to your specific needs.
About this post
Posted: 2024-01-15
By: dwirch
Viewed: 111 times
Categories
Tip
Tutorials
Linux Commandline
Linux
Ubuntu
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