LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] how to allow a user to manage the users?

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how to allow a user to manage the users?

hi all...i want to allow the user winny to manage users...
i have added the following lines to the visudo file.

#user alias specification
User_Alias LIMITEDTRUST = winny

#command alias specification
Cmnd_Alias MINUMUM = /usr/sbin/useradd, /usr/bin/passwd, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/usermod, /usr/sbin/userdel

#user privilege specification

LIMITEDTRUST ALL=MINIMUM

then i logged in as a user winny, and fire the following command
#sudo username linus
then it prompt me for a password, i dont know which password has to be given, i gave the user winny's password. I was told "sorry, try it again", then i gave the root user password. Same error was persist. when i fired the sudo username command second time it said useradd command not found.

How to solve this issue?

winny@somehost> sudo /usr/sbin/useradd <someparam> <...> new_user_login

and supply the passwd for winny.

See http://linux.die.net/man/8/useradd

hi there is a small problem in saving my visudo file?

Quote:

40
41 ## Delegating permissions
42 Cmnd_Alias DELEGATING = /usr/sbin/visudo, /bin/chown, /bin/chmod, /bin/chgrp
43
44 ## Processes
45 Cmnd_Alias PROCESSES = /bin/nice, /bin/kill, /usr/bin/kill, /usr/bin/killall
46
47 ## Drivers
48 Cmnd_Alias DRIVERS = /sbin/modprobe
49
50 # Defaults specification
51
52 #
53 # Disable "ssh hostname sudo <cmd>", because it will show the password in clear.
54 # You have to run "ssh -t hostname sudo <cmd>".
55 #
56 Defaults requiretty
57
58 Defaults env_reset
59 Defaults env_keep = "COLORS DISPLAY HOSTNAME HISTSIZE INPUTRC KDEDIR \
60 LS_COLORS MAIL PS1 PS2 QTDIR USERNAME \
61 LANG LC_ADDRESS LC_CTYPE LC_COLLATE LC_IDENTIFICATION \
62 LC_MEASUREMENT LC_MESSAGES LC_MONETARY LC_NAME LC_NUMERIC \
63 LC_PAPER LC_TELEPHONE LC_TIME LC_ALL LANGUAGE LINGUAS \
64 _XKB_CHARSET XAUTHORITY"
65
66 ## Next comes the main part: which users can run what software on
67 ## which machines (the sudoers file can be shared between multiple
68 ## systems).
69 ## Syntax:
70 ##
71 ## user MACHINE=COMMANDS
72 ##
73 ## The COMMANDS section may have other options added to it.
74 ##
75 ## Allow root to run any commands anywhere
76 root ALL=(ALL) ALL
77
78 ## Allows members of the 'sys' group to run networking, software,
79 ## service management apps and more.
80 # %sys ALL = NETWORKING, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, STORAGE, DELEGATING, PROCESSES, LOCATE, DRIVERS
81
82 ## Allows people in group wheel to run all commands
83 # %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL
84
85 ## Same thing without a password
86 # %wheel ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL
87
88 ## Allows members of the users group to mount and unmount the
89 ## cdrom as root
90 # %users ALL=/sbin/mount /mnt/cdrom, /sbin/umount /mnt/cdrom
91 ## Allows members of the users group to shutdown this system
92 # %users localhost=/sbin/shutdown -h now
93
94 #user alias specification
95 User_Alias LIMITEDTRUST = winston
96 Cmnd_Alias MINIMUM =/usr/sbin/useradd, /usr/bin/passwd, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/usermod, /usr/sbin/groupdel, usr/sbin/userdel
97 #user privilege specification
98 LIMITEDTRUST ALL=MINIMUM

plz concentrate on the last 15 lines...i just added the /usr/sbin/userdel command in the cmnd alias section. when i tried to save, it gave some syntax error...the error is

[root@kingston etc]# visudo
Warning: undeclared Cmnd_Alias `MINIMUM' referenced near line 93
>>> sudoers file: syntax error, line 90 <<<
Warning: undeclared Cmnd_Alias `MINIMUM' referenced near line 93
What now? e
>>> sudoers file: syntax error, line 90 <<<
Warning: undeclared Cmnd_Alias `MINIMUM' referenced near line 93
What now?

But the line no 93 is emplty...i am little bit confusing....

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingston (Post 3836066)

then i logged in as a user winny, and fire the following command
#sudo username linus
then it prompt me for a password,

The command "username" (whatever that maybe) was not listed in the config you posted. In these cases I think sudo plays dumb and just asks for a password.

Evo2.

i have tried this but actual error is on line this

LIMITEDTRUST ALL=MINIMUM
undeclared Cmnd_Alias `MINIMUM' referenced near line

i dont the actual syntax

Its difficult to say, but

Quote:

>>> sudoers file: syntax error, line 90 <<<

leads me to believe that somewhere, possibly line 90 or close before, you've got an actual newline break in the middle of a declaration. This is not allowed, you either use a wide line or with default vim line-wrapping or escape a newline with '\' see these examples http://linux.die.net/man/5/sudoers

i found error

which is in line of last command
Cmnd_Alias MINIMUM =/usr/sbin/useradd, /usr/bin/passwd, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/usermod, /usr/sbin/groupdel, usr/sbin/userdel

this is the Error:
, usr/sbin/userdel

every thing is fine

it screwed up me a lot...i simply reinstalled the sudo rpm...and configured again...as chrism told,

Quote:

winny@somehost> sudo /usr/sbin/useradd <someparam> <...> new_user_login

and supply the passwd for winny.

i fired the command "sudo /usr/sbin/useradd winny", first time i was asked a password. i gave the password of winston. Next time when i add a user it didnt ask anything. It works well...thanks to all

ok sohail...thanks i got it now....