[NTLUG:Discuss] Add and modify users

[Christopher Browne]

On Thu, 02 Mar 2000 09:00:38 CST, the world broke into rejoicing as
"Kathleen Weaver" <kathleen at augustmail.com>  said:
> Is there a way to setup someone so they can add and modify users without
> the root password.
> 
> I work with idiots....and they keep trashing the root password, instead of
> modifying their user password.

One way is to have a backup root ID.  That is, you set up an ID, let's
say, "kathleen," which *also* has user id 0.

Alternatively, you set up "sudo," a utility that lets you pass on 
the ability to users to run certain specified commands as root.  And
give your account the ability to run passwd as root...

Those are good "failsafe" mechanisms that might be added to anyone
else's suggestions about adding user IDs using automated tools...
--
"But what....is  it good for?"  -- Engineer at the  Advanced Computing
Systems Division of IBM about the microchip.  1968
cbbrowne at ntlug.org - <http://www.hex.net/~cbbrowne/lsf.html>