Login or Register to Ask a Question and Join Our Community


Shell Programming and Scripting

problem with changing default home directory

Login to Discuss or Reply to this Discussion in Our Community

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting problem with changing default home directory
# 1  
Old 09-23-2008
problem with changing default home directory
Hi
I want to change the default home directory of a user by modifying the /etc/passwd.

I have a user named John
cat /etc/passwd | grep John

john:x:503:506::/home/john/:/bin

Here is my script:

Code:
echo "Enter username";
read username;

echo "Enter new home directory";
read new_path;

awk -v user="$username" -v path="$new_path" 'BEGIN{FS=OFS=":"}$1==user{$6=$new_path}1' /etc/passwd > /etc/passwd.new && mv /etc/passwd.new /etc/passwd;;

I enter:
john
/home/tomas

cat /etc/passwd

john:x:503:506::john:x:503:506::/home/john:/bin/bash:/bin/bash

however it should be :

john:x:503:506::/home/tomas/:/bin

How can I correct it?
# 2  
Old 09-23-2008
Logic, let's paint the problem:
Code:
username=john
new_path=/home/tomas
awk -v user="$username" -v path="$new_path" 'BEGIN{FS=OFS=":"}$1==user{$6=path}1' /etc/passwd > /etc/passwd.new && mv /etc/passwd.new /etc/passwd;;

# 3  
Old 09-23-2008
On modern Solaris (10) and many linuces you can use the command usermod, quite useful.

usermod -d /path/to/new/home target_username

/fimblo
# 4  
Old 09-24-2008
That worked, thanks a lot


Quote:
Originally Posted by danmero
Logic, let's paint the problem:
Code:
username=john
new_path=/home/tomas
awk -v user="$username" -v path="$new_path" 'BEGIN{FS=OFS=":"}$1==user{$6=path}1' /etc/passwd > /etc/passwd.new && mv /etc/passwd.new /etc/passwd;;

Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

9 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. Solaris

SunOS confusing root directory and user home directory

Hello, I've just started using a Solaris machine with SunOS 5.10. After the machine is turned on, I open a Console window and at the prompt, if I execute a pwd command, it tells me I'm at my home directory (someone configured "myuser" as default user after init). ... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: egyassun
2 Replies

2. Solaris

User's Home directory ownership is changing Automatically

Hi , on my Solaris 10 machine user's home directory ownership is being changed automatically to their UID. can any one please tell me whats the reason behind it . users are there in /etc/passwd file . /etc/shadow file is also there along with nssswitch.conf file and there is no changes made to... (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: usernew
5 Replies

3. HP-UX

Changing the default login directory of a user

I want to change the default login directory of a user from /home/user to a new directory. how can i do this? thanks in advance....:) (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: smahe23
1 Replies

4. Shell Programming and Scripting

Changing home directory

Hello All: I have an LDAP server that is used for authentication. Now the home directory id set to : /export/home/user1 . But I am logging in to different machines Solaris, Linux. The problem is I want the home directory to change depending on the os version (e.g. /export/home/user1/linux). Can... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: disturbe_d
1 Replies

5. UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Problem: Automounting Home directory for nis & nfs configuration doesn't work

Hi all, First of all, i am so sorry about my bad level in English writing. I have some problem in linux and i hope the experts of this forum to help me if they have enough time to reply to me. I have a scenario of configuring NIS and NFS in Redhat Linux environment such that user can login... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: pioneer
0 Replies

6. Shell Programming and Scripting

Problem with changing directory and subdirectories to read only

I have a directory with its subdirectories and files. I want to change them all to read only. Say it is ~/test chmod -R 444 ~/test chmod: `/home/myname/test': permission denied I do not understand. Do I have to have executable mode for a diirectory to access. How can I change ~/test to... (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: lalelle
5 Replies

7. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Can I prevent a user from changing the permissions on their home directory.

Hello All, I have a new HPUX system going into production and it will be used by 2 projects. One of the contract requirements is the 2 groups can not have access to the others work or data. I believe I have the system pretty well locked up using groups and permissions and selective mounting of... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: DanL
2 Replies

8. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

user home directory problem

The home directory for me on my system is on /home/kwon. It was created using "useradd kwon" When i go to change the home directory for a user doing a usermod -d /home/test when they log on it gives them messages saying to generate new ssh keys, and it does. It gives me a thing that says... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: BangYourWallnut
1 Replies

9. Solaris

home directory problem

I have solaris 9 installed across 2 disks. disk 1 / s0 swap s1 /usr s6 /var s3 /home s7 disk2 /swapfile (spare space for use with swap) s1 /opt s5 /export/home s7 When I create a new user using solaris Management... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: finster
1 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question