[SOLVED] User login problem.

Nitin Chaudhary · 02-02-2012, 11:12 PM

Hi,

I'm new to LQ. First time I'm posting my thread.

I'm using RHEL 5 OS and I faced this problem while creating a new user:
I created a new user by adding the following line to the /etc/passwd file

Quote:

bobm::501:501:Bob Morris:/home/bobm:/bin/bash

I then created the user’s home directory and use the passwd command to set his password. However, I'm unable to log on through that user. What could be the problem?

chrism01 · 02-02-2012, 11:23 PM

Depends on the exact error msg you get.
Have you checked the ownerships & perms on the home dir?
Is this a standalone system or does it use distributed logins eg LDAP/NIS ?

To be honest, its probably going to be quicker to delete that stuff and use the proper tool
http://linux.die.net/man/8/useradd

Just do

Code:

useradd -c "Bob Morris" bobm 
passwd bobm

The default settings should give you more or less the same as you tried to specify, assuming you haven't changed them since the install.

John VV · 02-02-2012, 11:38 PM

or if this is NOT a text only server and you are using Gnome
then use the gui tool there on the menu
System /Administration /add user

you also might want to READ the red hat documentation
https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/...erprise_Linux/
the older RHEL 5 is in the middle

Also I RECOMMEND searching the red hat knowledge base
The FULL instructions are in there
https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/search
Now you WILL have to login to red hat with the username and password you set up when you bought the REQUIRED support contract

Nitin Chaudhary · 02-03-2012, 12:12 AM

this is a standalone PC.

chrism01 I know through useradd command we can create a user. But I was trying to create a user through editing /etc/passwd file.

Nitin Chaudhary · 02-03-2012, 12:18 AM

John VV, I also know through System /Administration /add user we can create a user.

John VV · 02-03-2012, 12:24 AM

Quote:

What could be the problem?

seeing as you did not use the normal tools SE is blocking the login because there is NO context

this is for your protection

SE will auto BLOCK a login to a not secured home folder
this is SOP

SELinux checks for the users SE context BEFORE the login can continue

Nitin Chaudhary · 02-03-2012, 12:32 AM

Can we leave the password field blank when creating a new user?

John VV · 02-03-2012, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Can we leave the password field blank when creating a new user?

NO
linux is not Microsoft

you have to have a user name AND a password

and if the password is weak RHEL will complain about it
well almost every linux distro will

chrism01 · 02-03-2012, 02:58 AM

Actually, you should have an 'x' in the passwd field, so it knows the passwd is in /etc/shadow.
If you know the proper tools, why are you ignoring them???

deep27ak · 02-03-2012, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitin Chaudhary

Can we leave the password field blank when creating a new user?

You will have to add a "*" at the place of password

go through these links

http://floppix.ccai.com/adduser.html
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...w-file-660564/
only thing to be noted is run this command after you copy everything from /etc/skel to home directory and give appropriate permissions

Code:

#pwconv

this will regenrate /etc/shadow file

Quote:

Originally Posted by John VV

NO
linux is not Microsoft

you have to have a user name AND a password

and if the password is weak RHEL will complain about it
well almost every linux distro will

How can someone put password in /etc/passwd file?

Nitin is asking whether he can leave the space blank where a "x" is present in /etc/passwd

and even though RHEL will complain but it will accept the password on the contrary

deep27ak · 02-03-2012, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrism01

If you know the proper tools, why are you ignoring them???

Is there any harm if anyone wants to learn anything new?

Nitin Chaudhary · 02-06-2012, 05:24 PM

Thank You guys. Thanks a lot. I got my all the answers. Now, I'm marking my thread as solved.