Managing user permissions and access levels is critical to Linux system administration. On Linux Mint 22, 21, or 20, you might need to create new users and grant them administrative privileges using the sudo command. This guide will walk you through creating a new user, adding them to the sudoers list, and resetting the root password if necessary. We will cover the use of commands like usermod and gpasswd to ensure proper user management and security.
Login to Root (su) on Linux Mint
Switching to the Root User
Begin creating and adding users to sudoers on Linux Mint, and start by switching to the root user. This is a necessary step for administrative tasks. Use the su command for this purpose. Note that the root account in Linux Mint doesn’t have a preset password. So, you’ll need to assign one.
Setting the Root Password
To set a root password, execute the following command in the terminal:
sudo passwd rootThis command prompts you to enter your current sudo account password. Once verified, you can set a new password for the root user. Ensure that this password is strong and secure, as it provides extensive system access.
Add a New User to the Sudoers Group
Switching to Root User
Having established your root password, proceed to switch to the root user. This step is critical for performing administrative tasks, including adding a new user to the sudoers group.
Utilize the su command for this transition:
suUpon execution, the system will prompt for the root password. Input the password you’ve set to continue. Successful entry will change your session to the root user, indicated by the username change in the terminal.
Create a New User Account on Linux Mint
Initiating User Creation
To add a new user account on Linux Mint, begin by determining the username for the new account. While modifying existing accounts is possible, this guide focuses on creating a fresh user account.
Executing the Adduser Command
Start by executing the adduser command followed by your chosen username. This command initiates the creation of a new user account. For instance:
adduser <desired_username>For a practical example:
adduser joshUpon running this command, the system prompts you to set a password for the new user. Using a strong password is crucial, especially for users with sudo privileges. A robust password typically includes uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, numbers, and special characters.
Providing User Details
Next, the system asks for additional details about the new user. This information includes the user’s full name, room number, work phone, home phone, and other details. You can fill out these details or press Enter to skip each field.
Finalizing the User Creation
After inputting the details, confirm the correctness by typing “Y” and pressing Enter. This action completes the user creation process.
Verifying the New User
To ensure that the user account has been successfully added, check the /etc/passwd file. This can be done by executing the following command:
cat /etc/passwdThis command displays a list of all user accounts, where you can verify the addition of the new user.
Add New User to the Sudoers Group on Linux Mint
Granting Sudoers Access
After creating a new user or selecting an existing user, the next step involves granting them sudoers access. This is achieved through the usermod command, which modifies user properties.
Using the Usermod Command
Execute the following command to add a user to the sudoers group:
usermod -aG sudo <desired_username>For instance, if the username is ‘josh’, the command would be:
usermod -aG sudo joshVerifying Sudoers Group Membership
Confirming that the user has successfully been added to the sudoers group is essential. This verification ensures that the user has the necessary permissions to execute commands with sudo.
Executing the ID Command
Run the id command with the username to check group membership:
id <username>Applying it to our example:
id josh
Alternative Method: Using gpasswd
As an alternative to usermod, the gpasswd command can also be used to add a user to the sudoers group.
Executing the Gpasswd Command
The command format is as follows:
gpasswd -a <example username> sudoFor example:
gpasswd -a josh sudoExample output:
adding josh to group sudoConfirm and Test the New Sudo User on Linux Mint
Switching to the New User Account
Having added your chosen user to the sudoers group, the next step is to test their new privileges. This is done by switching to the new user account using the su command.
Using the su Command
To switch to the new user account, execute:
su <example username>For our example with ‘josh’:
su joshVerifying Sudo Access
Once switched to the new user account, confirming their sudo privileges is crucial. This step ensures that the user has been correctly added to the sudoers group and has the necessary administrative access.
Executing Sudo Whoami
Run the following command to verify sudo access:
sudo whoamiThis command prompts you to enter the sudo username and password for the account you are testing. Successful entry and execution will display ‘root’ as output, indicating that the user has adequate sudo privileges.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can efficiently create new users and assign them sudo privileges on your Linux Mint system. Regularly managing and updating user permissions helps maintain system security and ensures that only authorized users have administrative access. Remember to keep your root password secure and update user privileges as needed to maintain a secure and well-managed system.