Instructions on how to set up a new user on a server

Last updated 2020-09-23 by Adam Lu

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• Create user through Webmin

  • Under System -> Users and Groups, hit Create a new user
  • Enter a Username
  • I recommend manually entering a user ID so that similar users can be grouped together (see user account lists below).
  • Enter the Real Name
  • Change the Shell to /bin/bash
  • Create a password for the user
  • If allowing user to make his/her own password (recommended), select Yes for Force change at next login?
  • Enter LabFolks under Existing group for Primary group
  • Select Collaborators for Secondary groups
  • Hit Create

• Update the user accounts list on the website (update the group list as well)

  • fishfish: user_accounts_fishfish (edit here: /media/adamX/Settings_Linux/user_accounts_fishfish.md)
  • chalkboard: user_accounts_chalkboard (edit here: /home/adam/Settings_Linux/user_accounts_chalkboard.md)

• Remove default .bashrc file (if to set up dot files using Adam’s template later)

  sudo rm /home/user/.bashrc
  

• Setup home directory according to Adam’s preferences

  # Set up home directory, including dot files (using Adam's template), symbolic links and desktop icons
  setup_homedir adam user
    
  # Only set up dot files using Adam's template
  setup_dotfiles adam user
    
  # Only set up useful symbolic links
  setup_links user
    
  # Only set up useful desktop icons
  setup_dotfiles user