User Account
User account information is stored in the /etc/passwd file. Each line represents one user and fields are separated by colons (:)
Check if a User Exists : grep username /etc/passwd
Example :
Fields Description
| Field | Example Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Username | sysadmin | Name used for login and file ownership display |
| Password Placeholder | x | Indicates password is stored in /etc/shadow |
| User ID (UID) | 1001 | Numeric ID used internally by the system |
| Primary Group ID (GID) | 1001 | Group the user belongs to; defines group permissions |
| Comment / GECOS | System Administrator,,, | Additional info about the user (e.g., full name) |
| Home Directory | /home/sysadmin | Location of the user’s home directory |
| Login Shell | /bin/bash | Default shell used when the user logs in |