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Adding User To Group in Linux

This document provides instructions for adding users to groups in Linux using the useradd and usermod commands, explaining that useradd can create new users or add existing users to groups while usermod modifies existing user accounts, and includes examples of adding new and existing users to both primary and secondary groups.

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183 views2 pages

Adding User To Group in Linux

This document provides instructions for adding users to groups in Linux using the useradd and usermod commands, explaining that useradd can create new users or add existing users to groups while usermod modifies existing user accounts, and includes examples of adding new and existing users to both primary and secondary groups.

Uploaded by

MoosaYazid
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Adding User to Group

How to add a user to a group under Linux operating system? You can use the useradd or usermod commands to add a user to a group. The useradd command creates a new user or update default new user information. The usermod command modifies a user account i.e. it is useful to add user to existing group. There are two types of group. First is primary user group and other is secondary group. All user account related information is stored in /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow and /etc/group files to store user information.

useradd Example - Add A New User To Secondary Group


You need to use the useradd command to add new users to existing group (or create a new group and then add user). If the group does not exist, create it. The syntax is as follows:
useradd -G {group-name} username

In this example, create a new user called linux and add it to group called developers. First login as a root user (make sure group developers exists), enter:
# grep developers /etc/group

Output:
developers:x:1124:

If you do not see any output then you need to add group developers using groupadd command:
# groupadd developers

Next, add a user called linux to group developers:


# useradd -G developers linux

Setup password for user linux:


# passwd linux

Ensure that user added properly to group developers:


# id linux

Output:
uid=1122(linux) gid=1125(linux) groups=1125(linux),1124(developers)

Please note that capital G (-G) option add user to a list of supplementary groups. Each group is separated from the next by a comma, with no intervening whitespace.

For example, add user amadu to groups admins, ftp, www, and developers, enter:
# useradd -G admins,ftp,www,developers amadu

useradd example - Add a new user to primary group


To add a user moosa to group developers use following command:
# useradd -g developers moosa # id moosa

Sample outputs:
uid=1123(moosa) gid=1124(developers) groups=1124(developers)

Please note that small -g option add user to initial login group (primary group). The group name must exist. A group number must refer to an already existing group.

usermod example - Add a existing user to existing group


Add existing user moosa to ftp supplementary/secondary group with usermod command using -a option ~ i.e. add the user to the supplemental group(s). Use only with -G option :
# usermod -a -G ftp moosa

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