User Accounts
- You must have a user account on the system in order to log in. The user accounts are
defined in the /etc/passwd file and contains the elements which identify each unique user to the system.
The Root Account
- The root account is the system administration account and is set up by the installation process.
The root login account owns all system files and has access to all files. As many user accounts as needed can be set up from this account.
The /etc/passwd Entry
- Each entry in the /etc/passwd file is made up of seven fields seperated by a colon, as shown in the image below:
- LOGIN ID - This is the identification required by the OS for a successful login. The login ID must be limited to:
eight alphanumeric characters.
Be lowercase characters
Be Unique
- PLACEHOLDER - Maintains the field for the password, which is kept in the /etc/shadow file. The /etc/shadow file
contains encrypted passwords and password ageing information. This file can only be read by the system administrator.
- UID - This Identifies the user to the OS.
- GID - This identifies the primary group you belong to.
- COMMENT - This, surprisingly enough, is where you can put a comment. Often used to enter user's full name.
- LOGIN DIRECTORY - This is your home directory, this is where you would store your files.
- DEFAULT SHELL - This defines which shell you will have upon login.
Next
'��`�[email protected]'��`�