Add a user thorugh SHELL?

mikeshn · 01-08-2003, 04:34 PM

I'm trying to add user joe to Linux.. Got an error message:

[mike@localhost sbin]$ ./adduser joe
adduser: unable to lock password file

Can someone give step by step instructions how to add user in Linux through SHELL(I know how to add user through KDE or GNOME)

Thanks

M.S

Darkstar · 01-08-2003, 04:45 PM

Are you logged in as root when you do this? I usually do it like:
$ adduser

But I guess either way would work as long as your root.

moon69 · 01-08-2003, 04:59 PM

You can vi the passwd file (/etc/passwd). Change user name, numeric id and home dir. You'll also have to manually create the home dir for the user.
Moon69

wdingus · 01-08-2003, 09:18 PM

You'd only need ./ in front of a command if you're in the directory where it resides and that directory is not already in your PATH variable.

Anyway, perhaps adduser produces a lock file that is still there after the command completed (error, not the way it should happen). So see if you can find it and manually delete it. I'd start by looking in /var/lock for a filename with adduser or similar in the filename.

SlickWilly · 01-08-2003, 10:31 PM

*chuckle*

Darkstar wins the prize.. Ding!

The clue was right here :

[mike@localhost sbin]$ ./adduser joe

^^^^
Mike isn't root. You need to run the adduser as root.

Slick.