title: Basic CLI User Management
tags: linux cli admin

See [usermod manpage](https://linux.die.net/man/8/usermod) and [useradd manpage](https://linux.die.net/man/8/useradd)
This is pretty much all I use.
```bash
adduser terry # has a simple question and answer interface, slightly higher level than useradd
usermod -a -G www-data,mr,flibble,turnips terry # add terry to the groups www-data, mr, flibble and turnips (note commas and no spaces)
```
The `useradd` command is slightly more low level than `adduser`.
```
# -m causes creation of home folder, using /etc/skel
# -G www-data means angel is in the group www-data in addition to the angel group
sudo useradd -m -G www-data angel ; sudo passwd angel
```
The /etc/skel is the default location for the *skeleton*. Stuff in here is copied to a new users home folder.
I often use multiple user accounts to separate concerns (e.g. one user per project). This means
I get a separate set of [tmux](/aw/os/tmux) sessions for each user, and can use a combination of tmux sessions and windows
to divide up terminal tasks. (I have a lot of editors and other things running, and like tmux since it
isn't tied to a particular desktop login.)

## Passwords
You can change passwords with
```
passwd       # change for current user
passwd bob   # change bob's password (must be root)
```
for batch changing, there are `chpasswd` and `chgpasswd`. For example
```
sudo chpasswd <<END
percy:percyslunch123
angel:angelspoon123
END
```
though do be careful with this one.