Discussion Locked

Adding a user

0 helpful
11 replies
Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Iam trying to add a user to my linux redhat server but the system does not abey the command,Is says that it cannot open the password file, where should i look to fix this frustrating issue.

11 replies

by andrew t. fry

First rule of Linux is you are a nonpriviledged user and must user root for sensitive activities like adding users. To accomplish this task at a command prompt type 'su' and enter your root password. Then proceed to add your user. Alternatively if you use a recent version of a distribution like RedHat or SuSE they contain helpful GUI interfaces for adding users. When starting them they usually request your root password as well. Hope this helps. Good luck.

by jcmcintyre

Runj the following command:

ls -l /etc/passwd

You should see results similar to the following
line

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1120 Aug
29 16:23 /etc/passwd

This is telling you that ONLY root can open this
file.

Next, run the following command

su root

Enter the root password, and and add the
required users

Next, get sudo from www.courtesan.com/sudo.

Install it, and read the Techrepublic article on
ho to configure it so non-root users have the
required access to commands normally used by
root.

Then remoce the su command from your system.
This will give you the access you need without
having to actually work as root.

Also, crackers will no longer have the ability
to su to root.

Cheers
Jim

by jcmcintyre

Runj the following command:

ls -l /etc/passwd

You should see results similar to the following
line

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1120 Aug
29 16:23 /etc/passwd

This is telling you that ONLY root can open this
file.

Next, run the following command

su root

Enter the root password, and and add the
required users

Next, get sudo from www.courtesan.com/sudo.

Install it, and read the Techrepublic article on
ho to configure it so non-root users have the
required access to commands normally used by
root.

Then remoce the su command from your system.
This will give you the access you need without
having to actually work as root.

Also, crackers will no longer have the ability
to su to root.

Cheers
Jim

This discussion is closed to new replies.