Setting Base Directory for New User Accounts in Linux

The useradd command in Linux is used to create new user accounts. One of the options available with this command is -b, --base-dir BASE_DIR. This option allows you to specify a base directory where new user home directories will be created.

Here are some examples demonstrating the usage of useradd with the -b option:

Example 1: Creating a user with a specified base directory:

    useradd -b /home/customusers johndoe
    

This command creates a new user account named johndoe with the home directory located at /home/customusers/johndoe.

To verify: Use grep johndoe /etc/passwd to check if the user johndoe exists and see the home directory specified.

Example 2: Specifying a different base directory:

    useradd --base-dir /data/users janedoe
    

Here, the command creates a user janedoe with the home directory set to /data/users/janedoe.

To verify: Check with grep janedoe /etc/passwd and confirm the specified home directory.

Example 3: Using a relative path for the base directory:

    useradd -b users newuser
    

This command creates newuser with the home directory set to /home/users/newuser, assuming /home is the default base directory.

To verify: Verify with grep newuser /etc/passwd to see the home directory path.

Example 4: Creating a user with an absolute path:

    useradd --base-dir /mnt/storage/files userservice
    

This will create a user userservice with the home directory /mnt/storage/files/userservice.

To verify: Check the output of grep userservice /etc/passwd for the specified home directory.

Example 5: Using a different directory structure:

    useradd -b /srv/clients/client1/employees employee1
    

Here, the user employee1 will have a home directory located at /srv/clients/client1/employees/employee1.

To verify: Ensure the entry for employee1 is present in /etc/passwd with the expected home directory.

Example 6: Creating a user with a customized directory:

    useradd --base-dir /var/custom/home customuser
    

This command creates customuser with the home directory /var/custom/home/customuser.

To verify: Check grep customuser /etc/passwd to confirm the home directory path.

Example 7: Using a network share as the base directory:

    useradd -b /mnt/nfs/users nfsuser
    

Creates a user nfsuser with the home directory /mnt/nfs/users/nfsuser.

To verify: Verify grep nfsuser /etc/passwd for the specified home directory path.

Example 8: Creating a user with a nested structure:

    useradd --base-dir /home/domain1/users/client1 clientuser
    

This command sets up clientuser with the home directory /home/domain1/users/client1/clientuser.

To verify: Check grep clientuser /etc/passwd for the home directory information.

Example 9: Assigning a user to a specific system directory:

    useradd -b /opt/application/users appuser
    

This creates a user appuser with the home directory /opt/application/users/appuser.

To verify: Use grep appuser /etc/passwd to see the user details and home directory path.

Example 10: Creating a user in a different partition:

    useradd --base-dir /media/storage/users storageuser
    

This command results in storageuser having the home directory /media/storage/users/storageuser.

To verify: Check grep storageuser /etc/passwd to confirm the home directory path.