Re: [Lias] User management problem

[Paul Gear <pgear@redlands.qld.edu.au>]

Tom Doyle wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have just deleted a batch of users (all of them) from my new email server.
> There was no errors and Webmin reported that all was well.
>
> I am trying to add the users again and I get an error saying they users
> already exist. Manually playing with userdel/add gives the following!:
>
> [root@test etc]# /usr/sbin/useradd jonesl
> useradd: user jonesl exists
> [root@test etc]# /usr/sbin/userdel jonesl
> userdel: error deleting password entry
> userdel: error deleting shadow password entry
> userdel: error removing group entry
> userdel: error removing shadow group entry
>
> I have checked the passwd, group, shadow, gshadow & shadow- files. I dont
> know what the last file is but none of them have a jonesl entry or any other
> of the users.

Any passwd/group/shadow files with a '-' on the end are old copies saved 
by the system commands when they manipulate the files.

> Only strange thing is that a select group of users seem to delete and add
> just fine (about 10 out of 700).
>
> No help on google either.
>
> I hope someone can help me. Reply to list please.

Try running 'pwck -r', and see if it picks up any inconsistencies.

--
Paul Gear
Manager IT Operations
Redlands College
38 Anson Road, Wellington Point 4160
07 3286 0271
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