useradd: warning: the home directory already exists

[kumar_chandel]

I'm trying to create a user in Linux by specifying the home directory with option -d. But I'm getting the below error:

[root@test123 ~]# useradd -c "Admin" -s /bin/ksh -d /oracle -g dba oracle123
useradd: warning: the home directory already exists.
Not copying any file from skel directory into it.

What is the reason for the files not being copied from the /etc/skel directory?

[Dennis Handly]

>What is the reason for the files not being copied from the /etc/skel directory?

Most likely because it thought you already did that and didn't want to destroy your customizations.

[kumar_chandel]

Does it affect an user if the files .bash_profile and .bash_logout are not copied form the /etc/skel diretory in linux?

[Dennis Handly]

>Does it affect an user if the files .bash_profile and .bash_logout are not copied form the /etc/skel directory in linux?

If the user uses bash.  :-)

And of course how much customization is done.

[Naj]

Hi,

Default values for account creation defined in /etc/default/useradd file  RHEL . Simply open this file using a text editor:

# vi /etc/default/useradd

The default home directory defined by HOME variable, find line that read as follows:

HOME=/home

Replace with:

HOME=/etc/skel

Hope this can help

Thanks

BR

Naj