Table of contents
This guide will walk you through the process of setting up new User on a CentOS 7 with Sudo privileges.
Prerequisites
Before diving into the process of creating a user on CentOS, ensure the following prerequisites are met:
Access to a CentOS server
Sudo privileges
Basic understanding of Linux commands
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Log in as a Sudo User:
sudo su -
This command allows you to log in as a sudo user.
2. Create a New User:
Switch to the root user to have the necessary permissions for Ansible tasks.
useradd <username>
Replace <username>
with the desired name for your new user.
3. Set Password for the New User:
passwd <username>
Choose a secure password for the new user.
4. Add User to the Wheel Group:
usermod -aG wheel <username>
Granting wheel group access provides sudo privileges to the user.
5. Switch to the New User:
This command allows you to access the system as a newly created user.
su - <username>
6. Switch Back to Root User:
To return to the root user from the new user session.
su -
7. Check Sudo Privileges:
Verify sudo privileges for the new user by checking the contents of the /root directory.
sudo ls -l /root
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
- Why should I create a new user on CentOS?
Creating a new user provides a more secure way to manage and perform tasks on your CentOS system, as using the root user for everyday tasks poses security risks.
- What is the purpose of the wheel group?
The wheel group is used to grant sudo (superuser) privileges to a user. Adding a user to the wheel group allows them to execute administrative commands with elevated privileges.
- Can I skip creating a new user and use the root user directly?
While possible, it is not recommended to use the root user for regular tasks due to security concerns. Creating a new user with sudo privileges is a best practice.
- Can I skip creating a new user and use the root user directly?
The main dependency is having Sudo privileges. Ensure that you are logged in as a user with sudo access before attempting to create a new user.
- How can I verify that the new user has Sudo privileges?
You can check sudo privileges by running sudo ls -l /root
. If you can view the contents of the /root directory without errors, the new user has sudo privileges.
- Basic Linux Command Knowledge:
Users should have a basic understanding of Linux command-line operations, as some commands like ls
, cd
, sudo
, and vim
are used in the documentation.
By following these steps, you can efficiently create a new user on CentOS with sudo privileges, enhancing the security and manageability of your system.