usermod error message

[RJA]

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?

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Perhaps you want to *move* the home directory:

# usermod -md /home/x12345 x12345

Regards!

...JRF...

[RJA]

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

[David Child_1]

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

[RJA]

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

[Dennis Handly]

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

[kumar_10]

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

[RJA]

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

[RJA]

Thanks all..

[Court Campbell]

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