changing uid, gid

zeke1955 · 01-05-2004, 10:54 PM

I need to change the UID and GID of one user. Is it ok to just change them in /etc/passwd and /etc/group, or does that screw up something, like maybe cause a conflict in /etc/shadow? Thanks!

jkobrien · 01-06-2004, 07:50 AM

Short answer: I'm not sure.

Longer answer: test it with a new user. Create some username and some files belonging to that user. Change the uid and gid of the user, log in as that user and see what happens.

I think it will probably mess up access to the files created with the old ids, as essentially this will be a different user to the one that created them.

John

darthtux · 01-06-2004, 05:06 PM

usermod -u uid
usermod -g group

This will be their initial login group and must exist in /etc/groups

For more info
man usermod

Xris718 · 01-09-2004, 02:04 PM

I think you can just change it in the /etc/passwd file. It should be fine after he relogs in.

DavidPhillips · 01-09-2004, 11:53 PM

usermod is it...

usermod will not allow you to change the name of a user who is logged
in. You must make certain that the named user is not executing any
processes when this command is being executed if the user’s numerical
user ID is being changed. You must change the owner of any crontab
files manually. You must change the owner of any at jobs manually.
You must make any changes involving NIS on the NIS server.