usermod

Name

usermod -- Modify a user account

Synopsis

usermod [-c comment] [-d home_dir [ -m]]
        [-e expire_date] [-f inactive_time]
        [-g initial_group] [-G group[,...]]
        [-l login_name] [-p passwd]
        [-s shell] [-u uid [ -o]] login

Options

-c comment

The new value of the user's password file comment field.

-d home_dir

The user's new login directory. If the -m option is given the contents of the current home directory will be moved to the new home directory, which is created if it does not already exist.

-e expire_date

The date on which the user account will be disabled. The date is specified in the YYYY-MM-DD.

-f inactive_days

The number of days after a password expires until the account is permanently disabled. A value of 0 disables the account as soon as the password has expired, and a value of -1 disables the feature. The default value is -1.

-g initial_group

The group name or number of the user's new initial login group. The group name must exist. A group number must refer to an already existing group.

-G group,[...]

A list of supplementary groups which the user is also a member of. Each group is separated from the next by a comma, with no intervening whitespace. The groups are subject to the same restrictions as the group given with the -g option. If the user is currently a member of a group which is not listed, the user will be removed from the group.

-l login_name

The name of the user will be changed from login to login_name. Nothing else is changed. In particular, the user's home directory name should probably be changed to reflect the new login name.

-p passwd

The encrypted password, as returned by crypt(3).

-s shell

The name of the user's new login shell. Setting this field to blank causes the system to select the default login shell.

-u uid [-o]

The numerical value of the user's ID. This value must be unique, unless the -o option is used. The value must be non-negative. Any files which the user owns and which are located in the directory tree rooted at the user's home directory will have the file user ID changed automatically. Files outside of the user's home directory must be altered manually.