/usr/sbin/adduser and setting initial group

lostintime · 05-11-2024, 12:40 PM

When setting the initial group there is no option to use a group name of the same name as the user. Admin opinions about whether such a group is needed probably vary.

Should the Slackware adduser script support setting the initial group to the same as the new user name? Or have I overlooked something obvious by not using this script in a long time?

Thanks.

Windu · 05-11-2024, 03:47 PM

The Slackware "adduser" script may not support it, but the system tool "useradd" supports this out of the box in Slackware. If you simply type "useradd foo" then user and group "foo" will be created where uidNumber equals gidNumber and "foo" will be the primary group for user "foo".

GazL · 05-11-2024, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windu

If you simply type "useradd foo" then user and group "foo" will be created where uidNumber equals gidNumber and "foo" will be the primary group for user "foo".

Is that actually how it works? I was under the impression that it will create a group of the same name but that the uid/gid are not guaranteed to match as it just picks the first unused id in each case.

I usually find a uid/gid pair manually and then explicitly state it on the groupadd and useradd commands. I also use gpasswd -A to make the user the administrator of their own group.

I never use adduser.

JayByrd · 05-11-2024, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GazL

...
I usually find a uid/gid pair manually and then explicitly state it on the groupadd and useradd commands...I never use adduser.

+1

As far as Slackware's adduser utility, I'll use that for real people, but for software/daemons (in my case the BOINC client,) I do it exactly as GazL suggests.

wigums · 05-15-2024, 12:00 PM

as far as suggesting which groups to initially make a user part of ........

when you get to that part of adduser just hit the up arrow one time. this will cycle through a few suggestions but i use the first.... add "wheel" to the end and youre golden