System Users

AdnanShaheen · 10-01-2009, 01:14 AM

Dear all
Is there any API/library available to get all system users and their groups or any one of them?

How can we set a user password programmatically. (I'm a root user, I want to add a user, set its group and password)

carbonfiber · 10-01-2009, 01:39 AM

Dear AdnanShaheen,

One of the great things about "open source" is that you can actually read the source. Your system most likely already provides utilities for adding/removing users/groups - why do you not read their sources to see how they accomplish this task? The passwd utility also has a source.

Yours truly, etc.

robajz · 10-01-2009, 01:43 AM

Hi,

I don't know of any library, but surely you can execute standard tools like
useradd - http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l...l8_useradd.htm
passwd - http://unixhelp.ed.ac.uk/CGI/man-cgi?passwd

You can read /etc/passwd for a list of users

Regards, Rob

bangaram · 10-01-2009, 02:03 AM

u can try "listusers" in solaris ...which reads from the appropriate source as directed in nsswitch.conf.....not sure in linux

/etc/passwd is a good option but ..will list only local users

AdnanShaheen · 10-01-2009, 02:42 AM

Thanks guys
I know about useradd, userdel etc and /etc/passwd. But I would be happy if some one have already read it somewhere, about any lib/API. Any how thanks once again

chrism01 · 10-02-2009, 01:21 AM

You don't say what language, but in C I'd start with http://linux.die.net/man/3/getpwuid