topic Re: usermod error message in Operating System - HP-UX

usermod error message

RJA — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:08:41 GMT

Hi, trying to change a users home directory using usermod.

usermod -d /home/x12345 x12345

The following error message is returned.

'/home/x12345' is not a valid directory

The /home/x12345 directoy exists and is owned by x12345.

Why does this error occurr?

Re: usermod error message

James R. Ferguson — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:19:30 GMT

Hi:

Perhaps you want to *move* the home directory:

# usermod -md /home/x12345 x12345

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: usermod error message

RJA — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:31:12 GMT

No, we don't want to move it, just change it to /home/x12345.

Re: usermod error message

David Child_1 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:49:19 GMT

What are the permissions of the target directory? You may get this error if permissions for the group are not read/exec. The group should also be the primary group for x12345.

David

Re: usermod error message

RJA — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:28:14 GMT

Permissions on /home/x12345 are 755. directory is owned by x12345:users

Re: usermod error message

Dennis Handly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:12:52 GMT

If you don't figure out why usermod(1m) fails, you can always use vipw(1m), if your system isn't trusted.

Re: usermod error message

kumar_10 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:32:29 GMT

Dear RJA, Please try & confirm

1, Remove the directory you have made

You have to run the command without creating any dirctory

2, #usermod -d /home/x12345 username

Which will create the home directory (x12345) with proper permission /ownership and update the same in passwd file. Then you can mv the scripts and other files from the old home directory.

Kumar

Re: usermod error message

RJA — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:28:48 GMT

kumar's suggestion worked. Thanks all for looking at it...

Re: usermod error message

RJA — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:29:33 GMT

Thanks all..

Re: usermod error message

Court Campbell — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:41:22 GMT

You could have just edited /etc/passwd directly after creating the users new home directory.