shadow/man/useradd.8.xml

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<!DOCTYPE refentry PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.3//EN"
		"http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.3/docbookx.dtd">
<refentry id='useradd.8'>
  <!--  $Id: useradd.8.xml,v 1.24 2005/09/30 15:41:20 kloczek Exp $ -->
  <refmeta>
    <refentrytitle>useradd</refentrytitle>
    <manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
  </refmeta>
  <refnamediv id='name'>
    <refname>useradd</refname>
    <refpurpose>Create a new user or update default new user information</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>
  <refsynopsisdiv id='synopsis'>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>useradd</command>
      <arg choice='opt'>
	<replaceable>options</replaceable>
      </arg>
      <arg choice='plain'><replaceable>LOGIN</replaceable></arg>
    </cmdsynopsis>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>useradd</command>
      <arg choice='plain'>-D </arg>
    </cmdsynopsis>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>useradd</command>
      <arg choice='plain'>-D </arg>
      <arg choice='opt'>
	<replaceable>options</replaceable>
      </arg>
    </cmdsynopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1 id='description'>
    <title>DESCRIPTION</title>
      <para>
	When invoked without the <option>-D</option> option, the
	<command>useradd</command> command creates a new user account using
	the values specified on the command line and the default values from
	the system. Depending on command line options, the useradd command
	will update system files and may also create the new user's home
	directory and copy initial files.
      </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='options'>
    <title>OPTIONS</title>
    <para>The options which apply to the <command>useradd</command> command are:
    </para>
    <variablelist remap='IP'>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-c</option>, <option>--comment</option>
	  <replaceable>COMMENT</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    Any text string. It is generally a short description of the
	    login, and is currently used as the field for the user's full
	    name.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-b</option>, <option>--base-dir</option>
	  <replaceable>BASE_DIR</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The default base directory for the system if <option>-d</option>
	    dir is not specified. <replaceable>BASE_DIR</replaceable> is
	    concatenated with the account name to define the home directory. 
	    If the <option>-m</option> option is not used, base_dir must
	    exist.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-d</option>, <option>--home</option>
	  <replaceable>HOME_DIR</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The new user will be created using
	    <replaceable>HOME_DIR</replaceable> as the value for the user's
	    login directory. The default is to append the
	    <replaceable>LOGIN</replaceable> name to
	    <replaceable>BASE_DIR</replaceable> and use that as the login
	    directory name.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-e</option>, <option>--expiredate</option>
	  <replaceable>EXPIRE_DATE</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The date on which the user account will be disabled. The date is
	    specified in the format <emphasis remap='I'>YYYY-MM-DD</emphasis>.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-f</option>, <option>--inactive</option>
	  <replaceable>INACTIVE</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The number of days after a password expires until the account is
	    permanently disabled. A value of 0 disables the account as soon
	    as the password has expired, and a value of -1 disables the
	    feature. The default value is -1.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-g</option>, <option>--gid</option>
	  <replaceable>GROUP</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The group name or number of the user's initial login group. The
	    group name must exist. A group number must refer to an already
	    existing group. The default group number is 1 or whatever is
	    specified in <filename>/etc/default/useradd</filename>.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-G</option>, <option>--groups</option>
	  <replaceable>GROUP1</replaceable>[<emphasis remap='I'>,GROUP2,...</emphasis>[<emphasis remap='I'>,GROUPN</emphasis>]]]
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    A list of supplementary groups which the user is also a member
	    of. Each group is separated from the next by a comma, with no
	    intervening whitespace. The groups are subject to the same
	    restrictions as the group given with the <option>-g</option>
	    option. The default is for the user to belong only to the
	    initial group.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><option>-h</option>, <option>--help</option></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>Display help message and exit.</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-m</option>, <option>--create-home</option>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The user's home directory will be created if it does not exist. 
	    The files contained in <replaceable>SKEL_DIR</replaceable> will
	    be copied to the home directory if the <option>-k</option>
	    option is used, otherwise the files contained in
	    <filename>/etc/skel</filename> will be used instead. Any
	    directories contained in <replaceable>SKEL_DIR</replaceable> or
	    <filename>/etc/skel</filename> will be created in the user's
	    home directory as well. The <option>-k</option> option is only
	    valid in conjunction with the <option>-m</option> option. The
	    default is to not create the directory and to not copy any
	    files.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-K</option>, <option>--key</option>
	  <replaceable>KEY</replaceable>=<replaceable>VALUE</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    Overrides /etc/login.defs defaults (UID_MIN, UID_MAX, UMASK,
	    PASS_MAX_DAYS and others).
	  <para>
	  </para>
	    Example: <option>-K </option><replaceable>PASS_MAX_DAYS</replaceable>=<replaceable>-1</replaceable>
	    can be used when creating system account to turn off password
	    ageing, even though system account has no password at all.
	    Multiple <option>-K</option> options can be specified, e.g.:
	    <option>-K </option>
	    <replaceable>UID_MIN</replaceable>=<replaceable>100</replaceable>
	    <option> -K </option>
	    <replaceable>UID_MAX</replaceable>=<replaceable>499</replaceable>
	  </para>
	  <para>
	    Note: <option>-K </option>
	    <replaceable>UID_MIN</replaceable>=<replaceable>10</replaceable>,<replaceable>UID_MAX</replaceable>=<replaceable>499</replaceable>
	    doesn't work yet.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-o</option>, <option>--non-unique</option>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>Allow create user account with duplicate (non-unique) UID.</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-p</option>, <option>--password</option>
	  <replaceable>PASSWORD</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The encrypted password, as returned by <citerefentry>
	    <refentrytitle>crypt</refentrytitle><manvolnum>3</manvolnum>
	    </citerefentry>. The default is to disable the account.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-s</option>, <option>--shell</option>
	  <replaceable>SHELL</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The name of the user's login shell. The default is to leave this
	    field blank, which causes the system to select the default login
	    shell.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term>
	  <option>-u</option>, <option>--uid</option>
	  <replaceable>UID</replaceable>
	</term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    The numerical value of the user's ID. This value must be unique,
	    unless the <option>-o</option> option is used. The value must be
	    non-negative. The default is to use the smallest ID value
	    greater than 999 and greater than every other user. Values
	    between 0 and 999 are typically reserved for system accounts.
	  </para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>

    <refsect2 id='changing_the_default_values'>
      <title>Changing the default values</title>
      <para>
	When invoked with the <option>-D</option> option,
	<command>useradd</command> will either display the current default
	values, or update the default values from the command line. The
	valid options are
      </para>
      <variablelist remap='IP'>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term>
	    <option>-b</option> <replaceable>HOME_DIR</replaceable>
	  </term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>
	      The initial path prefix for a new user's home directory. The
	      user's name will be affixed to the end of
	      <replaceable>HOME_DIR</replaceable> to create the new
	      directory name if the <option>-d</option> option is not used
	      when creating a new account.
	    </para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term>
	    <option>-e</option> <replaceable>EXPIRE_DATE</replaceable>
	  </term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>The date on which the user account is disabled.</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term>
	    <option>-f</option> <replaceable>INACTIVE</replaceable>
	  </term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>
	      The number of days after a password has expired before the
	      account will be disabled.
	    </para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term>
	    <option>-g</option>, <option>--gid</option>
	    <replaceable>GROUP</replaceable>
	  </term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>
	      The group name or ID for a new user's initial group. The named
	      group must exist, and a numerical group ID must have an
	      existing entry.
	    </para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term>
	    <option>-s</option>, <option>--shell</option>
	    <replaceable>SHELL</replaceable>
	  </term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>
	      The name of the new user's login shell. The named program will
	      be used for all future new user accounts.
	    </para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
      </variablelist>

      <para>
	If no options are specified, <command>useradd</command> displays the
	current default values.
      </para>
    </refsect2>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='notes'>
    <title>NOTES</title>
    <para>The system administrator is responsible for placing the default
      user files in the <filename>/etc/skel/</filename> directory.
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='caveats'>
    <title>CAVEATS</title>
    <para>
      You may not add a user to a NIS group. This must be performed on the
      NIS server.
    </para>
    <para>
      Usernames must begin with a lower case letter or an underscore, and
      only lower case letters, underscores, dashes, and dollar signs may
      follow. In regular expression terms: [a-z_][a-z0-9_-]*[$]
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='files'>
    <title>FILES</title>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/passwd</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>user account information</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/shadow</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>secure user account information</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/group</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>group account information</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/default/useradd</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>default information</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/skel/</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>directory containing default files</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/login.defs</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>shadow password suite configuration</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='exit_values'>
    <title>EXIT VALUES</title>
    <para>
      The <command>useradd</command> command exits with the following values:
      <variablelist>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>0</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>success</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>1</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>can't update password file</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>2</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>invalid command syntax</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>3</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>invalid argument to option</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>4</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>uid already in use (and no <option>-o</option>)</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>6</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>specified group doesn't exist</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>9</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>username already in use</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>10</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>can't update group file</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>12</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>can't create home directory</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
	<varlistentry>
	  <term><replaceable>13</replaceable></term>
	  <listitem>
	    <para>can't create mail spool</para>
	  </listitem>
	</varlistentry>
      </variablelist>
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='see_also'>
    <title>SEE ALSO</title>
    <para>
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>chfn</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>chsh</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>passwd</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>crypt</refentrytitle><manvolnum>3</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>groupadd</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>groupdel</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>groupmod</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>login.defs</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>userdel</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>usermod</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>.
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='author'>
    <title>AUTHOR</title>
    <para>Julianne Frances Haugh (jockgrrl@ix.netcom.com)</para>
  </refsect1>
</refentry>