can not create user HOMEDIR

[tom quach_1]

Hi all,

i have some wear problem and need your help.
when i create new user, it always create user in root DIR, even in
/etc/default/useradd, i have a HOMEDIR
#default useradd options
HOMEDIR /home
#HOMEDIR /SUNHOME
GROUPID 20
INACT -1
EXPIRE
CHOWN_HOMEDIR no

and permision of /home is 777
as root i can cd to /home and mkdir with out a problem.


the server has been in service 3 yrs and never has problem like this before.

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Tom

[Raj D.]

Tom,

What happens if you try to provide the home directory from command prompt ,

Ex: # useradd -U -d/home/user1 -s/usr/bin/sh -g -m user1

Btw, what is version of the OS.


Cheers,
Raj.

[Sandman!]

Could you post the command you use for adding users on your system.

[tom quach_1]

Thanks Raj

The os=HP-UX 11.11

if I use command line like this,
then user was created successful.
useradd -m -d /home/testuser testuser


if I use command like this
useradd -m testuser

it would create user in root as /testuser


Thanks,

[Sandman!]

The useradd command is behaving as it should, since the "-m" option does not take an argument but the "-d" option does, and is the dir you specify on the command line.

>useradd -m testuser

the command above will create dir /testuser since the default for the "-d" option is base_dir/login. See the man page for useradd(1M) for details and read the text for the "-d" option.

~cheers

[Raj D.]

That means it is not picking up the default configurations from the /etc/default/useradd file. And looks like a weired bug on hpux 11.00 and 11.11, Btw, did you checked with the option -D .


Though not have much idea at this point of time,

But you can check this thread as well:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1012891&admit=-682735245+1167170130569+28353475

Cheers,
Raj.

[Raj D.]

useradd -m option will create the directory automatically , as per the username specified. ( As mentioned above by Sandman!. )

Cheers,
Raj.

[tom quach_1]

thank you Raj and sandman,

this box has been working for the last 3 years and this just happens last few weeks.

the command
#useradd -m testuser will create user in default home DIR " /home"
somehow it did not pickup the default in this file.
/etc/default/useradd
for now, i just add -d in the script. but if someone has any idea
please let me now,
Thank you,
Tom

[Sandman!]

could uou post the output of the command below:

# useradd -D

thanks!

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Tom:

Try removing the commented line ("#HOMEDIR /SUNHOME") from the defaults file and reissue the 'useradd' command the way you have been using it.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Sandman!]

Remove the #HOMEDIR /SUNHOME line in your useradd file and run the "useradd -D" command before and after deleting the offending line and you'll see why that's the case.

~hope it helps

[tom quach_1]

Thank you very much,
it works well after removed the line.

Would someone please explain as why that comment line would cause the problem?

Thanks,
Tom

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi (again) Tom:

> Would someone please explain as why that comment line would cause the problem?

Certainly. Clearly, the presence of the pound sign character is not interpreted as indicative of a comment line that should be skipped. Hence, the last declaration for the keyword HOMEDIR was processed and since '/SUNHOME' doesn't exist, the variable's value became a default of root's home directory.

Regards!

...JRF...

[tom quach_1]

Thank-you James for you explanation.


Regards,
Tom