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Automating User Management on Linux

Taiwo Adebiyi's photo
Taiwo Adebiyi
·

2 min read

As businesses grow, managing user accounts on Linux systems becomes increasingly crucial. In this article, we'll explore a bash script (create_users.sh) designed to automate user creation, group assignments, and password management on Ubuntu, making system administration more efficient and error-free.

Understanding the Script

The create_users.sh script reads from a user list file (users.txt) where each line specifies a user's username and their associated groups. For example:

light; sudo,dev,www-data
idimma; sudo
mayowa; dev,www-data

Key Features of the Script:

  1. User Creation and Group Assignment*:*

    • The script creates each user specified in users.txt.

    • It assigns each user to their respective groups, ensuring proper permissions and access management.

  2. Password Generation and Storage*:*

    • For each new user, a random password is generated securely using OpenSSL.

    • Usernames and passwords are logged in /var/secure/user_passwords.csv, accessible only to system administrators for security.

  3. Logging for Auditing*:*

    • All actions performed by the script, such as user creation and group assignment, are logged in /var/log/user_management.log. This helps in tracking changes and troubleshooting.

How to Use the Script:

  1. Prepare the Environment*:*

    • Ensure you have a Linux system (e.g., Ubuntu) ready with administrative privileges.

    • Download or create the create_users.sh script and users.txt file containing user details.

  2. Execute the Script*:*

    • Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing create_users.sh.

    • Run the script with sudo bash create_users.sh users.txt.

  3. View Logs and Passwords*:*

    • After execution, check /var/log/user_management.log for a detailed log of all operations.

    • Securely access user passwords in /var/secure/user_passwords.csv.

Conclusion

Automating user management tasks with create_users.sh streamlines administrative workflows, reduces human error, and enhances security by ensuring consistent user configurations across Linux systems. Whether managing a small team or a large enterprise, this script proves invaluable for maintaining a well-organized and secure user environment.

For a detailed walkthrough and access to the script, visit our GitHub repository here.

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Linuxbash script