Setting up a new user: Difference between revisions

From Alpine Linux
m (Add to the System Administration category)
(Formatting changes + redo groups.)
Line 21: Line 21:
}} (Not recommended, as reverting to an older .apkovl will also revert the files in /home).
}} (Not recommended, as reverting to an older .apkovl will also revert the files in /home).
}}
}}


Regular user accounts can be created with:
Regular user accounts can be created with:
{{Cmd|# adduser [-g "<Full Name>"] <username>}}
{{Cmd|# adduser [-g "<Full Name>"] <username>}}


By default, adduser will:
By default, <code>adduser</code> will:
* prompt you to set a password for the new user
* prompt you to set a password for the new user
* create a home directory in {{Path|/home/<username>}}
* create a home directory in {{Path|/home/<username>}}
Line 37: Line 36:
}}
}}


'''If a user ''really must'' be allowed to have access to the root account''', the <username> can be added to the '''wheel''' group and <code>{{Pkg|doas}}</code> ("do as") may be installed:
# adduser -g "<username>" <username>
# adduser <username> wheel
# apk add doas


'''Only''' if <code>elogind</code> is not being used and running, then X users would need to be added to the video and input groups to be able to work with a graphical display.
You will want to allow members of the '''wheel''' group to use root privileges with <code>doas</code>. To do this, open the <code>doas</code> config file:
adduser 'UserName' video
adduser 'UserName' input


{{Cmd|# <editor> /etc/doas.d/doas.conf}}


'''If a user ''really must'' be allowed to have access to the root account''', the <username> can be added to the wheel group, <code>doas</code> ("do as") may be installed, and the group "wheel" can be allowed to become root:
Add the following line and save the file:
adduser -g "<username>" <username>
{{Cmd|permit persist :wheel}}
adduser <username> wheel
apk add doas
apk add nano
nano /etc/doas.d/doas.conf
 
Ensure that this file contains
permit persist :wheel


{{Warning|It's recommended to '''not''' run complete applications, like editors, as root just to modify administrative files.
{{Warning|It's recommended to '''not''' run complete applications, like editors, as root just to modify administrative files.
<br>
<br>
* Many desktop environments and file browsers support using <code>admin:///</code> in their address bars, to access files through a local gvfs-admin mount
* [https://github.com/AN3223/scripts/blob/master/doasedit <code>doasedit</code>] or <code>sudoedit</code>([https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Release_Notes_for_Alpine_3.15.0#Move_from_sudo_to_doas being deprecated in favour of <code>doas</code>]) enables starting an editor with a temporary copy of a file, which overwrites the original file after the user modifies and saves it. For example, <code>sudoedit /etc/apk/lbu.conf</code>
* [https://github.com/AN3223/scripts/blob/master/doasedit <code>doasedit</code>] or <code>sudoedit</code>([https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Release_Notes_for_Alpine_3.15.0#Move_from_sudo_to_doas being deprecated in favour of <code>doas</code>]) enables starting an editor with a temporary copy of a file, which overwrites the original file after the user modifies and saves it. For example, <code>sudoedit /etc/apk/lbu.conf</code>
* Many desktop environments and file browsers support using <code>admin:///</code> in their address bars, to access files through a local gvfs-admin mount.
}}
}}
The <code>sudo</code> package is an alternative to using the BSD-like <code>doas</code>, but is a much larger package.
The <code>sudo</code> package is an alternative to using the BSD-like <code>doas</code>, but is a much larger package.
Line 65: Line 60:
  echo "$NEWUSER ALL=(ALL) ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/$NEWUSER && chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/$NEWUSER
  echo "$NEWUSER ALL=(ALL) ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/$NEWUSER && chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/$NEWUSER


<br>
'''Only''' if <code>{{Pkg|elogind}}</code> is not being used and running, then X users would need to be added to the '''video''' and '''input''' groups to be able to work with a graphical display:
# adduser '<username>' video
# adduser '<username>' input


The new user gets listed in  
The new user gets listed in  
Line 119: Line 119:
=== Common permission groups ===
=== Common permission groups ===


(Taken from https://git.alpinelinux.org/alpine-baselayout/tree/group)
{{Draft|Need to note a few security implications outlined on [https://wiki.debian.org/SystemGroups debian/wiki SystemGroups]}}
 
Groups are needed for certain operations on your system.


* '''disk''':x:6:root,adm  needed only for use vith virtual machines and access to other partitions.
(Names taken from https://git.alpinelinux.org/alpine-baselayout/tree/group)
* '''lp''':x:7:lp  needed for printing services and printers management.
* '''wheel''':x:10:root  Administrator group, members can use <code>sudo</code> to run commands as root if enabled in the sudo configuration.
* '''floppy''':x:11:root  Backward compatible group. Use only if access to special external devices is needed.
* '''audio''':x:18:  Needed for audio listening and management of sound volume as normal user.
* '''cdrom''':x:19:  For access to CD/DVD/BR writers and mounting DVD, BR or CD rom disk as normal user.
* '''dialout''':x:20:root  Needed for dialing private connections and use of modems as normal user.
* '''tape''':x:26:root  Needed if you're planning to use special devices for backup. Rare. Ususally used only on servers.
* '''video''':x:27:root  For usage of cameras, more than one GPU special features, as normal user.
* '''netdev''':x:28:  For network connections management as normal user.
* '''kvm''':x:34:kvm Only if a normal user will manage virtual machines via a GUI. Rare. Ususally used only on servers.
* '''games''':x:35:  Needed if you want to play games. Especially if sharing scores between users.
* '''cdrw''':x:80:  Needed to write RW-DVD, RW-BR or RW-CD disk on a disk writing device.
* '''apache''':x:81: Needed if you do development as normal user and want to publish locally on web server.
* '''usb''':x:85: Needed to access to special usb devices. Deprecated group.
* '''users''':x:100:games Needed if you plan to use common files for all users. Mandatory for desktop usage.


{{Cmd|adm        Used for system monitoring tasks.
disk        Raw access to disks.  '''Mostly equivalent to root access.'''
lp          Members of this group can enable and use printers.
wheel      Administrator group, members can use '''doas''' to run commands as root if enabled in the doas configuration.
floppy      Access to floppy drives and other removable (non-optical) dirves (like USB flash drives).
audio      Direct access to sound hardware (the soundcard or a microphone).
cdrom      For access to disk writers and mounting DVD, BR or CD-ROM disk as normal user.
dialout    Full and direct access to serial ports.
input      Access to input devices.
tape        Needed to give a set of users access to a tape drive.
video      Access to video capture devices (like a webcam).
netdev      For network connections management as normal user.
kvm        Needed to use the KVM acceleration of virtual machines.
games      Access to some game software.
cdrw        Needed to write RW-DVD, RW-BR or RW-CD disk on a disk writing device.
usb        Needed to access special USB devices, deprecated group.
users      Needed if you plan to used common files for all users, mandatory as desktop usage.}}


To add your user to a group use the following command:
{{Cmd|# adduser <username> <group>}}
{{Note|You need to log out for the group change(s) to take effect.}}


To see what group(s) a <username> is in, use the following command:
{{Cmd|# id <username>}}


= Old newbie notes =
= Old newbie notes =

Revision as of 19:59, 28 June 2022

The root account should be used only for local administrative purposes that require elevated access permissions.

This page shows how to create non-privileged user accounts. i.e. those used for daily work, including desktop use and remote logins.

Overview

Creating user accounts provides users with their own $HOME directory and allows you (the root user) to limit the access those user accounts have to the operating system configuration files.

Using them increases security, because they limit possible actions and thus possible damage (even from accidental errors).

Creating a new user

Warning: If using a "diskless" or "data" disk mode installation, it's important to make the /home directory persistent.


  • Either the /home filesystem needs to be mounted from a writable partition, or
  • the /home directories have to be added to the lbu backup, and a new local backup needs to be committed after creating the user:

# lbu include /home # lbu commit

(Not recommended, as reverting to an older .apkovl will also revert the files in /home).


Regular user accounts can be created with:

# adduser [-g "<Full Name>"] <username>

By default, adduser will:

  • prompt you to set a password for the new user
  • create a home directory in /home/<username>
  • set the shell to the one used by the root account (ash by default)
  • assign user ID and group ID starting at 1000
  • set the GECOS (full name) field to "Linux User,,,"
Tip: The optional -g "<Full Name>" above sets the GECOS field.

This can be very useful to specify. Setting this string - at least equal to the username - makes the user distinguishable, e.g. when they are listed at the login screen of a display manager.

If a user really must be allowed to have access to the root account, the <username> can be added to the wheel group and doas ("do as") may be installed:

# adduser -g "<username>" <username>
# adduser <username> wheel
# apk add doas

You will want to allow members of the wheel group to use root privileges with doas. To do this, open the doas config file:

# <editor> /etc/doas.d/doas.conf

Add the following line and save the file:

permit persist :wheel

Warning: It's recommended to not run complete applications, like editors, as root just to modify administrative files.


  • doasedit or sudoedit(being deprecated in favour of doas) enables starting an editor with a temporary copy of a file, which overwrites the original file after the user modifies and saves it. For example, sudoedit /etc/apk/lbu.conf
  • Many desktop environments and file browsers support using admin:/// in their address bars, to access files through a local gvfs-admin mount.


The sudo package is an alternative to using the BSD-like doas, but is a much larger package. It may be used as follows: adding a custom user configuration file to avoid having to deal with manually changing configuration files later during package upgrades.

apk add sudo
NEWUSER='yourUserName'
adduser -d "${NEWUSER}" $NEWUSER
echo "$NEWUSER ALL=(ALL) ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/$NEWUSER && chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/$NEWUSER


Only if elogind is not being used and running, then X users would need to be added to the video and input groups to be able to work with a graphical display:

# adduser '<username>' video
# adduser '<username>' input

The new user gets listed in

Contents of /etc/passwd

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/ash . . . <username>:x:1000:1000:Linux User,,,:/home/<username>:/bin/ash

Now you should be able to issue the command exit and login to the new account.

Options

adduser

Usage (from "man busybox"):

adduser [OPTIONS] USER [GROUP]

Create new user, or add USER to GROUP

     -h --home DIR           Home directory
     -g --gecos GECOS        GECOS field
     -s --shell SHELL        Login shell named SHELL by example /bin/bash
     -G --ingroup GRP        Group (by name)
     -S --system             Create a system user
     -D --disabled-password  Don't assign a password, so cannot login
     -H --no-create-home     Don't create home directory
     -u --uid UID            User id
     -k SKEL                 Skeleton directory (/etc/skel)
Tip: Multi-user collaboration

If --ingroup isn't set, (default) the new user is assigned a new GID that matches the UID. If the GID corresponding to a provided UID already exists, adduser will fail.

This ensures new users default to having a "user's private group" (UPG) as primary group. These allow the system to use a permission umask (002), which creates new files automatically as group-writable, but only by the user's private group. In special set-group-id (collaboration) directories, new files can be automatically created writable by the directory's group.

addgroup

Usage (from "man busybox"):

addgroup [-g GID] [-S] [USER] GROUP

Create a group or add a user to a group

    -g --gid GID    Group id
    -S --system     Create a system group

Legacy

Common permission groups

This material is work-in-progress ...

Need to note a few security implications outlined on debian/wiki SystemGroups
(Last edited by Encode on 28 Jun 2022.)

Groups are needed for certain operations on your system.

(Names taken from https://git.alpinelinux.org/alpine-baselayout/tree/group)

adm Used for system monitoring tasks. disk Raw access to disks. Mostly equivalent to root access. lp Members of this group can enable and use printers. wheel Administrator group, members can use doas to run commands as root if enabled in the doas configuration. floppy Access to floppy drives and other removable (non-optical) dirves (like USB flash drives). audio Direct access to sound hardware (the soundcard or a microphone). cdrom For access to disk writers and mounting DVD, BR or CD-ROM disk as normal user. dialout Full and direct access to serial ports. input Access to input devices. tape Needed to give a set of users access to a tape drive. video Access to video capture devices (like a webcam). netdev For network connections management as normal user. kvm Needed to use the KVM acceleration of virtual machines. games Access to some game software. cdrw Needed to write RW-DVD, RW-BR or RW-CD disk on a disk writing device. usb Needed to access special USB devices, deprecated group. users Needed if you plan to used common files for all users, mandatory as desktop usage.

To add your user to a group use the following command:

# adduser <username> <group>

Note: You need to log out for the group change(s) to take effect.

To see what group(s) a <username> is in, use the following command:

# id <username>

Old newbie notes

User creation and defaults

The following commands will set up root environment login, then assign a new password:

cat > /root/.cshrc << EOF
unsetenv DISPLAY || true
HISTCONTROL=ignoreboth
EOF

cp /root/.cshrc /root/.profile

echo "secret_new_root_password" | chpasswd

By default, remote management cannot be done directly with the root account. Because of SSH security we need to set up a remote connection account that will be used to switch to the root user via the su command, once connected.

Here's an example: create user named "remote" and a user named "general". We will set up a hardened, limited, user environment and create those two users:

mkdir -p /etc/skel/

cat > /etc/skel/.logout << EOF
history -c
/bin/rm -f /opt/remote/.mysql_history
/bin/rm -f /opt/remote/.history
/bin/rm -f /opt/remote/.bash_history
EOF

cat > /etc/skel/.cshrc << EOF
set autologout = 30
set prompt = "$ "
set history = 0
set ignoreeof
EOF

cp /etc/skel/.cshrc /etc/skel/.profile

adduser -D --home /opt/remote --shell /bin/ash remote

echo "secret_new_remote_user_password" | chpasswd

adduser -D --shell /bin/bash general

echo "secret_new_general_user_password" | chpasswd
Tip: "general" is the name of the user. That name MUST contain ONLY lowercase letters, NO spaces and NO symbols

Note that those users are created with minimal privilege settings.

User management and system access

By default, a newly created user will not have enough privileges for most desktop purposes.

To add newly created users to groups that may come in handy for desktop useage, you run this command as root:

for u in $(ls /home); do for g in disk lp floppy audio cdrom dialout video netdev games users; do addgroup $u $g; done;done