Automating User Management on Windows: A Bash Script Approach

Introduction

As businesses grow, managing user accounts and permissions becomes crucial for maintaining security and operational efficiency. This technical article introduces a Bash script designed to automate user creation and group assignment, tailored for use on Windows systems via Git Bash.

Script Explanation

The create_users.sh script is crafted to read from a user list file (users.txt) containing usernames and their associated groups. Here’s a breakdown of its key functionalities:

User Creation: Using basic Windows commands (net user), the script creates users specified in the users.txt file.
Password Generation: Generates random passwords for each user and logs them securely in /var/secure/user_passwords.txt.
Logging: Logs all actions to /var/log/user_management.log, detailing each user creation and group assignment.

Usage Instructions

Prerequisites

Ensure you have Git Bash installed on your Windows system. If not, download and install it from Git for Windows.

Running the Script

Download the Script: Clone the repository containing create_users.sh and users.txt.
Open Git Bash: Navigate to the directory containing create_users.sh using Git Bash.
Run the Script: Execute the script by running the following command:
```
 ./create_users.sh users.txt
```
This command initiates the script, reading user details from users.txt and performing user and group management tasks.

Note on `sudo`

Unlike Unix-based systems, Windows does not use sudo for command execution. The script has been adapted to utilize native Windows commands.

Conclusion

Automating user management tasks enhances operational efficiency and ensures consistency in user configurations across systems. By leveraging Bash scripting in a Windows environment, businesses can streamline administrative tasks effectively.

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

For more information on automating processes and enhancing productivity, explore opportunities with the HNG Internship and HNG PREMIUM program.