LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] KNOPPIX Linux - User's Home Directory Not Getting Created

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KNOPPIX Linux - User's Home Directory Not Getting Created

Hi Guys,

I have just installed KNOPPIX Linux on a Virtual Machine. This Linux Distro is great in the sense that I didn't find any difficulty in running its Live CD and then installing it.

Well, so here I am. I created a couple of user accounts but no directory was created for them under /home directory. Here's an example:

Code:

root@Microknoppix:~# useradd x

root@Microknoppix:~# passwd x

Enter new UNIX password: 

Retype new UNIX password: 

passwd: password updated successfully

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /home

knoppix

root@Microknoppix:~# su - x

No directory, logging in with HOME=/

x@Microknoppix:/$ ls

KNOPPIX  bin   debian  etc   lib    mnt  proc  sbin     srv  tmp  var

Sept     boot  dev     home  media  opt  root  selinux  sys  usr  vmlinuz

x@Microknoppix:/$

As it can be seen from the above output that no home directory was created for the user. Yet, the user can create files and can do any work.

So, I looked at the file: /etc/default/useradd and uncommented the following line:

Code:

# The default home directory. Same as DHOME for adduser

HOME=/home

Of course, /home is already in existance!

So, what could it be wchich is causing the problem? Where can the user's home directry be going then?

From: man useradd: -m, --create-home
Create the user´s home directory if it does not exist. The files
and directories contained in the skeleton directory (which can be
defined with the -k option) will be copied to the home directory.

so...it'd be : useradd -m yourloginname

Thanks for your help! Yes, it works!

Code:

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# useradd -m x

Creating mailbox file: File exists

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# userdel -r x

userdel: /var/mail/x not owned by x, not removing

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# useradd -m x

Creating mailbox file: File exists

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# su - x

x@Microknoppix:~$

x@Microknoppix:~$ ls

x@Microknoppix:~$ ls /home

knoppix  x  y

x@Microknoppix:~$

try adduser.
It's a script which let you create the home directory, password, etc

Well, there is a problem now. The users which I created previously, for example: the account of the user x

I delete it recursively and then create it again as shown below:

Code:

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# userdel -r x

userdel: /var/mail/x not owned by x, not removing

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# ls /home

knoppix  y

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# useradd -m x

Creating mailbox file: File exists

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix# ls /home

knoppix  x  y

root@Microknoppix:/home/knoppix#

Kindly, consider the underlined lines in the commands and their outputs given above. If we are to remove the mail box manually then how do we do that?

Thanks in advance!

I think I have found it:

Code:

root@Microknoppix:~# find / -name mail

/var/mail

/var/spool/mail

/usr/lib/gimp/2.0/plug-ins/mail

^C

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /var/mail/

hi  x  y

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /var/spool/mail/

hi  x  y

root@Microknoppix:~# rm -rf /var/mail/x

root@Microknoppix:~# rm -f /var/spool/mail/x

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /var/mail

hi  y

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /var/spool/mail/

hi  y

root@Microknoppix:~# userdel -r x

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /home   

knoppix  y

root@Microknoppix:~# useradd -m x

root@Microknoppix:~# passwd x

Enter new UNIX password: 

Retype new UNIX password: 

passwd: password updated successfully

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /home

knoppix  x  y

root@Microknoppix:~# su - x

x@Microknoppix:~$ ls

x@Microknoppix:~$

Thanks again! adduser command is great! So, I would like to use the useradd command as a short-hand.

Code:

root@Microknoppix:~# adduser --force-badname Me 

Allowing use of questionable username.

Adding user `Me' ...

Adding new group `Me' (1003) ...

Adding new user `Me' (1003) with group `Me' ...

Creating home directory `/home/Me' ...

Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...

Enter new UNIX password: 

Retype new UNIX password: 

passwd: password updated successfully

Changing the user information for Me

Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default

        Full Name []: Dev 

        Room Number []: Heaven

        Work Phone []: 0000

        Home Phone []: 0000

        Other []: 0000

Is the information correct? [Y/n] Y

root@Microknoppix:~# ls /home

Me  knoppix  x  y

root@Microknoppix:~#