user accounts Introduction User accounts in _L_i_n_u_x are all stored in the same database. _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f splits those accounts in different categories based on known practice. Each category has its own menu entry. 11.. NNoorrmmaall aaccccoouunnttss 11..11.. EEddiitt//CCrreeaattee uusseerr aaccccoouunnttss This is the menu to use to create normal shell account. 11..22.. ggrroouupp ddeeffiinniittiioonnss Users are member of groups. This is the menu to use to create and manage groups. 11..33.. CChhaannggee rroooott ppaasssswwoorrdd Go there to change the superuser password (root) 22.. SSppeecciiaall aaccccoouunnttss Many user accounts are used to control specific tasks. Those accounts are special purpose. They have a user ID and belong to a group. They also have a password. Those accounts are not meant for human being though. 22..11.. EEddiitt//CCrreeaattee PPPPPP aaccccoouunntt vviiaa nnoorrmmaall llooggiinn Those accounts let a remote machine connects and establish a network connection using the PPP protocol. The remote must identify using a standard chat sequence, sending its user name followed by a password. 22..22.. PPPPPP aaccccoouunntt vviiaa PPAAPP aauutthheennttiiffiiccaattiioonn Those accounts are meant for authentication using the PAP protocol. User name and password are exchange using a special protocol defined in the PPP standard. 22..33.. PPPPPP aaccccoouunntt vviiaa CCHHAAPP aauutthheennttiiffiiccaattiioonn Same as above, except that a different, more secure, protocol is used to exchange authentification. 22..44.. SSLLIIPP aaccccoouunntt vviiaa nnoorrmmaall llooggiinn SLIP is another way of establishing a network connection between two computer over a serial line (modem). 22..55.. UUUUCCPP aaccccoouunntt UUCP is the Unix to Unix Communication Protocol. This is a batch oriented data transfer. It allows unattended exchange of files (and email) between two computers. It provides a very inexpensive but highly reliable way to automate data exchange. It is probably the best way (by far) to receive and send email on the internet unless you have a dedicated connection with your service provider. See the networking section of _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f to configure UUCP. 22..66.. PPOOPP aaccccoouunnttss ((mmaaiill oonnllyy)) POP acccounts are restricted accounts. Users can't get a shell. They are generally used to retrieve email using the POP (Post Office Protocol). They are also usable to connect to other service such the Samba (file and print service for PCs machines) 22..77.. VViirrttuuaall PPOOPP aaccccoouunnttss ((mmaaiill oonnllyy)) Those accounts are much more restrictive accounts. They allow retrieval of email using the POP protocol, from virtual email domain. See the menu "Networking/mail delivery system (sendmail)" to configure virtual email domain. 33.. EEmmaaiill aalliiaasseess Email aliases may be considered special virtual user account. They allow redirection of email for one user (the account may exist or not) to another (one or more indeed) email address. 33..11.. EEddiitt//CCrreeaattee mmaaiinn ddoommaaiinn uusseerr aalliiaasseess This is the edition of the aliases list for the main email domain of this computer. 33..22.. vviirrttuuaall ddoommaaiinn uusseerr aalliiaasseess This lets you do the same for each virtual email domain. 44.. OOtthheerr ssttuuffff 44..11.. PPaasssswwoorrdd && aaccccoouunntt ppoolliicciieess You can control the rules for password validation and some default operation parameter associated with the accounts. 44..22.. PPoolliicciieess ffoorr vviirrttuuaall ddoommaaiinnss You can specify defaults on a virtual per virtual domain basis. 44..33.. AAvvaaiillaabbllee uusseerr sshheellllss Many shells are available in _L_i_n_u_x. You defined them here. 44..44.. AAvvaaiillaabbllee PPPPPP sshheellllss These shells control the parameter of PPP session. 44..55.. AAvvaaiillaabbllee SSLLIIPP sshheellllss These shells control the parameter of a SLIP session.