userdel(8) System Manager's Manual userdel(8)
NAME
userdel - delete an user account
SYNOPSIS
userdel [-D binddn] [-P path] [-r[-f]]
[--service service] [--help] [-u] [-v] account
DESCRIPTION
userdel deletes an user account from the local system files or a LDAP database and removes all entries that refer to account from the group
database. Before the account is removed, the USERDEL_PRECMD command as defined in login.defs(5) is called, after removal the
USERDEL_POSTCMD command is called.
OPTIONS
-r, --remove-home
Remove the whole home directory and the mail spool of the specified account. Files located in other directories will have to be
searched for and deleted manually.
-f, --force
This option is used to force the removal of files, even if not owned by the account.
--service service
Add the account to a special directory. The default is files, but ldap is also valid.
-D, --binddn binddn
Use the Distinguished Name binddn to bind to the LDAP directory. The user will be prompted for a password for simple authentica-
tion.
-P, --path path
The passwd and shadow files are located below the specified directory path. chpasswd will use this files, not /etc/passwd and
/etc/shadow.
--help Print a list of valid options with a short description.
-u, --usage
Print a short list of valid options.
-v, --version
Print the version number and exit.
FILES
passwd - user account information
shadow - shadow user account information
group - group information
SEE ALSO
passwd(1), login.defs(5), passwd(5), shadow(5), useradd(8), usermod(8)
AUTHOR
Thorsten Kukuk <kukuk@suse.de>
pwdutils October 2003 userdel(8)
