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Linux User and Group Management

Covers end-to-end server user administration, including creating and deleting users, managing groups, configuring sudo privileges, and applying password policies.

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Contents
  1. User Management
  2. Group Management
  3. Account Expiration
  4. sudo Privileges
  5. Dedicated Service Accounts (Recommended for Security)
  6. Login Activity

User Management

Bash
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash deploy
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash -G docker,sudo deploy

sudo passwd deploy

sudo usermod -s /bin/zsh deploy
sudo usermod -aG docker deploy
sudo usermod -L deploy     # lock the account
sudo usermod -U deploy     # unlock the account

sudo userdel deploy
sudo userdel -r deploy     # also delete home directory and mail spool

Group Management

Bash
sudo groupadd devteam
sudo groupdel devteam

sudo gpasswd -a deploy devteam
sudo gpasswd -d deploy devteam

id
groups deploy
getent group docker

Account Expiration

Bash
sudo chage -l deploy
sudo chage -M 90 deploy           # force a password change every 90 days
sudo chage -E 2026-12-31 deploy   # account expiration date

sudo Privileges

Bash
sudo usermod -aG sudo deploy

# edit with visudo
deploy ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/systemctl restart nginx, /usr/bin/docker *
%devteam ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/docker
Bash
sudo useradd \
  --system \
  --no-create-home \
  --shell /sbin/nologin \
  --comment "App Service Account" \
  myapp

Login Activity

Bash
who
w
last
lastb    # failed login attempts
#linux#user#group#sudo#permission
Editorial note

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