Deleting multiple users

[NateJones]

Hello,

Can someone tell me the proper method for removing large numbers of users from /etc/passwd? This is a trusted system, and all users to be removed have the same group id.

Thanks!
Nate

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Nate:

Use 'userdel'. See the manpages for more details. You could do:

#!/usr/bin/sh
while read USER
do
userdel -r ${USER}
RC=$?
if [ "${RC}" != 0 ]; then
echo "error ${RC} for ${USER}"
else
echo "${USER} deleted_OK"
fi
done < myuserlist

...where "myuserlist" contains the user name to be deleted -- one name per line in the file.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Pete Randall]

How about a for loop with the "userdel" command:

for USER in `cat userlist`
do
userdel $USER
done

Or something similar.


Pete

[Jeff_Traigle]

I'd be reluctant to use the -r option on userdel unless you are 100% sure that they have unique isolated home directories. Although I typically don't use it, I did once at my last job ( I plead temporary insanity) and it just happened that user's home directory was right in the middle of an application directory. Removed the user and a good portion of the application along with him.

[NateJones]

Dang you guys are fast! Thanks much, you're script is exactly what I needed.

Nate

[NateJones]

Thanks Jeff. I took James' advice and read the manpages, and did catch the -r switch. It would have indeed been distastrous for us as all users share the same home directory.

Nate