Ubuntu Unleashed, Second Edition

passwd—Creates or modifies user passwords

su—Executes shell or command as another user

sudo—Manages selected user execution permissions

useradd—Creates, modifies, or manages users

usermod—Edits a user’s login profile

Reference

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/

_User-Authentication-HOWTO.html—The User-Authentication HOWTO describes how

user and group information is stored and used for authentication.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/

Shadow-Password-HOWTO.html—The Shadow-Password HOWTO delves into the murky

depths of shadow passwords and even discusses why you might not want to use them.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/

_Security-HOWTO.html—A must-read HOWTO, the Security HOWTO is a good overview

of security issues. Especially applicable to this chapter are sections on creating accounts,

file permissions, and password security.

http://www.secinf.net/unix_security/Linux_Administrators_Security_Guide/—A general

guide, the Linux System Administrator’s Security Guide has interesting sections on limit-

ing and monitoring users.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/

Config-HOWTO.html—How can you customize some user-specific settings? The Config

HOWTO Software Configuration gives some advice.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/Path.html—

How can one know the true path? The Path HOWTO sheds light on this issue. You need

to understand paths if you want to guide the users to their data and applications.

http://www.courtesan.com/sudo/—The

SUperuser DO command is a powerful and elegant

way to delegate authority to regular users for specific commands.

http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/libs/pam/index.html—The Pluggable Authentication

Modules suite contains complex and highly useful applications that provide additional

security and logging for passwords. PAM is installed by default in Ubuntu. It isn’t neces-

sary to understand the intricacies of PAM to use it effectively.

CHAPTER 14 Managing Users

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