6.1 Creating user accounts (10.1 server)

Creating individual users with the "Server Admin" tool is pretty straightforward.

However it could become tedious if you have a large number of accounts to create. In this situation, consider using a shell script (as described in the section "6.3 Shell Script - Creating User Accounts") to import your users from a comma delimited text file.

Log on to the server as "root".

Run "Server Admin" from the toolbar.

Select "New User" from the "Users & Groups" icon, a new user property box will appear...

If your server is part of a shared NetInfo network, then you are given a choice of domains when adding users & Groups.

In general, in this situation, you should choose to add your user to the NetInfo root domain...

Enter the users "Name", "Short Name" and "Password".

Make sure that the box labeled "User can log on" is ticked.

The field "User ID" is automatically filled in - though you can change it if you wish.

Set "Primary Group" to the ID of one of the groups that you defined earlier.

Tick the "Custom" button - this allows you to specify "Home Directory" properties in more detail..

Enter a server address in the "Server" field.

Enter a share point name in the "Share Point" field.

Enter a path to the user directory in the "Path" field.

When you are done, click on the "Save" button.

Open a group folder and create a new folder. Rename this new folder to the users short name.

Note, placing user homes within a group folder allows you to administer these directories more easily.

In the example opposite, the home directory for the new user has been placed within a folder called "baph2003". This folder contains user homes for all BA Photography students who graduate in the year 2003. As an administrator, I know that in Summer 2003 these user homes can be deleted.

Switch back to "Server Administrator" and select "Set Sharing Attributes" from the "Sharing" icon

Browse to the home folder, then click the "Choose" button

Now, set the permissions on the user home folder.

Set the "Owner" to the user that you just created with read/write access.

Set the "Group" to "wheel" with read/write access

Give "Everyone" read access

Click on the "Save" button to make changes.

Select "Set Sharing Attributes" from the "Sharing" icon again.

Browse to the home folders' "Documents" folder, then click the "Choose" button

Finally, set the permissions on the "Documents" folder.

Set the "Owner" to the user that you just created with read/write access.

Set the "Group" to "wheel" with read/write access

Give "Everyone" NO access

Click on the "Save" button to make changes.

ADDENDUM

If this happens, you will have to first create the user in the servers' local domain and then copy it into the root domain.

Open the "Users & Groups List" for both the local and root domains, then drag the user from the local "Users Groups List" window to the root domains "Users Groups List" Window.

When you are done, delete the user from the local domain.