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Dishang Soni for ServerAvatar

Posted on • Originally published at serveravatar.com

How to Create and Manage Linux Users and Groups

If you’ve ever wondered why your Linux system asks for a password or why you can’t access certain files, you’re dealing with Linux Users and group management—whether you realize it or not. Today, I’m going to break down everything you need to know about managing users and groups in Linux, and trust me, it’s not as complicated as it might seem at first.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Linux treats everything as a multi-user environment, even if you’re the only person using your laptop. This might seem like overkill, but it’s actually brilliant for security. Every file, every process, and every service runs under a specific user account. This separation means that if one part of your system gets compromised, the damage stays contained.

I learned this the hard way when I first started with Linux. I ran everything as root (the superuser) because it was “easier”—until I accidentally deleted half my system with a mistyped command. That’s when I truly understood why user management isn’t just bureaucracy; it’s self-preservation.

Creating Your First Linux User

Let’s dive into the practical stuff. The most basic way to create a user is with the useradd command, though I’ll be honest—it’s a bit bare-bones:

sudo useradd john

This creates a user called “john,” but here’s the catch: no password, no home directory (on some systems), basically just a name in the system. Not very useful, right?

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