E S i n T i

 Linux Create User with Root Privileges

Explanations of the command output:

A.  uid=0(root) The user id for user 'root' user is 0.

B.  gid=0(root) the group id for user ‘root’ is 0.

C.  groups=0(root),1(bin),2(daemon),3(sys),4(adm),6(disk),10(wheel) The user ‘root’ is belong in groups; root, bin, daemon, sys, adm, disk and wheel.

2.  Now we take a look at the passwd, shadow and group files that contain ‘root’ user information:

[root@fedora ~]# less /etc/passwd

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

[root@fedora ~]# less /etc/shadow

root:$1$B2BEWv4X$Gb.QPb6I3RwCkEkz13ow21:13080:0:99999:7:::

[root@fedora ~]# less /etc/group

root:x:0:root

bin:x:1:root,bin,daemon

daemon:x:2:root,bin,daemon

sys:x:3:root,bin,adm

adm:x:4:root,adm,daemon

tdisk:x:6:root

wheel:x:10:root

   From the information gather above, to create a user that have the same power (superuser power) as a ‘root’ user in Linux system, we need to create a user with same root user uid, gid and group.

3.  To create user account that has the same ability (super user) as the ‘root’ user, issue this command:

[root@fedora ~]# adduser -u 0 -o -g 0 -G 0,1,2,3,4,6,10 -M root2

Adduser command explanations:

Note: you need to have the administrative privilege on the system in order to issue 'adduser' command above.

4.  Now add a password for user ‘root2’ by issue the ‘passwd root2’ command, see example below:

[root@fedora ~]# passwd root2

Changing password for user root2.

New UNIX password:

Retype new UNIX password:

passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.

Note: you need to have the administrative privilege on the system in order to issue 'passwd' command above.

5.  Check id for user root2 by issue the ‘id root2’ command, see example below:

[root@fedora ~]# id root2

uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root),1(bin),2(daemon),3(sys),4(adm),6(disk),10(wheel)

6.  Now recheck the passwd, shadow and group files that contain ‘root2’ user informations to confirm the changes:

[root@fedora ~]# less /etc/passwd

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

root2:x:0:0::/home/root2:/bin/bash

[root@fedora ~]# less /etc/shadow

root:$1$B2BRWv4X$Gb.MPc6I3RwCkEkT13ow21:13080:0:99999:7:::

root2:$1$bQHGH4cX$TtsV/WVdFe5cIsHWjzc.N1:13112:0:99999:7:::

[root@fedora ~]# less /etc/group

root:x:0:root,root2

bin:x:1:root,bin,daemon,root2

daemon:x:2:root,bin,daemon,root2

sys:x:3:root,bin,adm,root2

adm:x:4:root,adm,daemon,root2

disk:x:6:root,root2

wheel:x:10:root,root2

7.  Everything should be ok, now try to login to system with newly created ‘root2’ account, see example:

login as: root2

root2@10.7.0.211's password:

Last login: Thu Nov 24 23:48:49 2005 from 10.7.0.112

Could not chdir to home directory /home/root2: No such file or directory

-bash-3.00#

-bash-3.00#

-bash-3.00# su –

[root@fedora ~]#

8.  Make sure that you execute the su command with hyphen ( su - ) to get the PATH of the user that you become to... below is the example of the su command with hyphen and without hyphen.

Loggin in as user tenouk, then execute $PATH as example below.

[tenouk@fedora ~]$ $PATH

-bash: /usr/lib/qt-3.3/bin:/usr/kerberos/bin:/usr/local/bin:/bin:/usr/bin:/home/ tenouk/bin: No such file or directory

[tenouk@tenouk ~]$

Use the su command to change to root user as example below and then execute $PATH as example below.

[tenouk@fedora ~]$ su root

Password:

[root@fedora tenouk]# $PATH

bash: /usr/kerberos/sbin:/usr/lib/qt-3.3/bin:/usr/kerberos/bin:/usr/local/bin:/b in:/usr/bin:/home/tenouk/bin: No such file or directory

[root@fedora tenouk]#

Then try use the su - command and verify with the $PATH as example below.

[root@tenouk tenouk]# su - root

[root@tenouk ~]# $PATH

-bash: /usr/lib/qt-3.3/bin:/usr/kerberos/sbin:/usr/kerberos/bin:/usr/local/sbin: /usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/root/bin: No such file or director y

[root@tenouk ~]#

Note:  The execution of su command, without the hypen ( - ) you inherit the PATH of the current user. Use the su command, with hyphen ( su - ) to get the default PATH of the root user.

Step-by-step how to procedure above tested on:

Operating System: GNU/Linux Fedora Core 4

Kernel Name: Linux

Kernel  Release:  2.6.11-1.1369_FC4

Kernel Version: #1 Thu Jun 2 22:55:56  EDT 2005

Machine Hardware:  i686

Machine Processor:  i686

Hardware Platform:  i386

Shell: GNU bash, version 3.00.16(1)-release (i386-redhat-linux-gnu)

Installation Type: Full  Installation (Custom)

SELinux: Disable