Unix - User Administration

User administration in Unix refers to the process of managing user accounts, which includes creating, modifying, and deleting user accounts on a Unix-based operating system.

Unix uses a file-based authentication system, which means that user account information is stored in text files, such as /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /etc/group. The process of user administration involves making changes to these files.

Here are some of the common tasks involved in user administration:

Creating new user accounts: This involves creating a new entry in the /etc/passwd file with a unique user ID (UID) and assigning a password to the user. The user can then log in to the system and start using it.

Modifying user accounts: This involves making changes to existing user accounts, such as changing the user's password, home directory, or default shell.

Deleting user accounts: This involves removing the user's account from the system, which includes deleting their entry in the /etc/passwd file and removing their home directory.

Managing user groups: Unix also allows you to manage groups of users, which involves creating new groups, adding or removing users from existing groups, and modifying group permissions.

Setting user permissions: Unix uses a permission-based system to control access to files and directories. User administration also involves setting permissions for individual users or groups of users, which determines what actions they can perform on files and directories.

Overall, user administration is an important part of managing a Unix system, as it allows you to control who can access the system and what they can do once they are logged in.