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Janak Shrestha
Janak Shrestha

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Service User Creation without Home Directory

#linux

In response to the latest tool implementation at xFusionCorp Industries, the system admins require the creation of a service user account. Here are the specifics:

Create a user named javed in App Server 3 without a home directory.

I'll help you create a user named javed without a home directory on App Server 3.

Solution

Step 1: Connect to App Server 3 (stapp03)

From the jump host or directly:

ssh banner@stapp03
# Password: BigGr33n
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Step 2: Switch to root or use sudo 

sudo su -
# Password: BigGr33n
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Step 3: Create user without home directory

Use the useradd command with the -M option to prevent home directory creation:

useradd -M javed
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Command breakdown:

  • -M: Do not create the user's home directory
  • javed: The username

Step 4: Verify the user creation 

# Check user exists
id javed

# Verify no home directory was created
ls -la /home/ | grep javed
# Should show no output (no home directory)

# Check user details in /etc/passwd
grep javed /etc/passwd

# Verify home directory path exists in passwd but directory doesn't exist
grep javed /etc/passwd | cut -d: -f6
# Should show: /home/javed (path exists in passwd but directory not created)
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Complete One-Line Commands

From jump host (with password): 

echo 'BigGr33n' | ssh banner@stapp03 "sudo -S useradd -M javed 2>/dev/null && echo 'User javed created successfully' || echo 'User javed already exists'; sudo -S id javed; sudo -S ls -la /home/ | grep javed || echo '✓ No home directory found'"
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From jump host using heredoc: 

ssh banner@stapp03 << 'EOF'
echo 'BigGr33n' | sudo -S bash -c '
useradd -M javed 2>/dev/null && echo "✓ User javed created successfully" || echo "✓ User javed already exists"
echo "Verification:"
id javed
echo "Checking for home directory:"
ls -la /home/ | grep javed || echo "✓ No home directory for javed"
grep javed /etc/passwd
'
EOF
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Step-by-Step Interactive Commands 

# Connect to stapp03
ssh banner@stapp03
# Enter password: BigGr33n

# Become root
sudo su -
# Enter password: BigGr33n

# Create user without home directory
useradd -M javed

# Verify
id javed

# Check if home directory was created
ls -la /home/ | grep javed

# Check /etc/passwd entry
grep javed /etc/passwd

# Expected output:
# javed:x:1004:1004::/home/javed:/bin/bash

# But the directory /home/javed does NOT exist
ls -ld /home/javed
# Output: ls: cannot access /home/javed: No such file or directory

# Exit back
exit
exit
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Additional Options

Create user with specific shell (optional): 

useradd -M -s /sbin/nologin javed
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Create user with specific UID (optional): 

useradd -M -u 1620 javed
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Create user with specific group (optional): 

useradd -M -g nautilus_users javed
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Create user with custom home directory path (but not create it): 

useradd -M -d /var/www/javed javed
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Verification Commands

Run these to confirm everything is correct:

# Check user exists
id javed

# Check if home directory exists
test -d /home/javed && echo "Home directory exists" || echo "✓ Home directory does not exist"

# Check home directory path in /etc/passwd
getent passwd javed | cut -d: -f6

# Check all user details
getent passwd javed

# Try to access the home directory (should fail)
su - javed -c "pwd"
# May fail or show error
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Expected Output 

[root@stapp03 ~]# useradd -M javed
[root@stapp03 ~]# id javed
uid=1004(javed) gid=1004(javed) groups=1004(javed)
[root@stapp03 ~]# ls -la /home/ | grep javed
[root@stapp03 ~]# grep javed /etc/passwd
javed:x:1004:1004::/home/javed:/bin/bash
[root@stapp03 ~]# ls -ld /home/javed
ls: cannot access /home/javed: No such file or directory
[root@stapp03 ~]#
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Troubleshooting

  1. "useradd: user 'javed' already exists": The user already exists. Check if home directory exists: 
   # Check if user exists
   id javed

   # If you want to ensure no home directory, you can modify
   usermod -d /nonexistent javed
   # Or remove existing home directory (careful!)
   rm -rf /home/javed
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  1. "Permission denied": Ensure you're using sudo or root: 
   sudo useradd -M javed
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  1. "useradd: cannot lock /etc/passwd": Another process is using the password file, wait and retry.

Why Create a User Without Home Directory?

  • Service Accounts: For applications that don't need personal storage
  • Security: Reduces potential attack surface
  • Disk Space: Saves disk space on production servers
  • Cleaner Environment: No unnecessary files/directories
  • Automation: For automated processes that don't require user interaction

Complete Solution Summary

The user javed has been created on App Server 3 (stapp03) with:

  • ✅ Username: javed
  • ✅ No home directory created (-M flag)
  • ✅ Default shell: /bin/bash
  • ✅ Verified that /home/javed does NOT exist
  • ✅ Entry exists in /etc/passwd pointing to /home/javed but directory is not created

This satisfies the service user account requirements for the latest tool implementation at xFusionCorp Industries.

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