Xfce Forum

johnywhy

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 288

Where to define extra default groups for new Non-Root "Desktop" users?

Which is correct place to define extra default user-groups for new non-root "Desktop Users".

Is it /etc/adduser.conf?
https://askubuntu.com/a/748223/412839

or /etc/default/useradd?
https://askubuntu.com/a/507715/412839

or useradd command?
https://manpages.debian.org/jessie/pass … .8.en.html

or...?

Is there a gui for this?

Last edited by johnywhy (2018-08-22 06:38:14)

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arch xfce x86_64

Jerry3904

Member

Registered: 2013-11-09

Posts: 863

Re: Where to define extra default groups for new Non-Root "Desktop" users?

Have you tried a web search on "mint linux add user" ?

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johnywhy

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 288

Re: Where to define extra default groups for new Non-Root "Desktop" users?

Have you tried a web search on "mint linux add user" ?

I know how to add users.

Not sure you understand my question.

I did Google my question, and i included my search findings in my OP.

thx

Last edited by johnywhy (2018-08-22 16:07:02)

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arch xfce x86_64

alcornoqui

Member

Registered: 2014-07-28

Posts: 832

Re: Where to define extra default groups for new Non-Root "Desktop" users?

Took me some time to parse your question...

Which is correct place to define extra default user-groups for new non-root "Desktop Users".

You can set in what groups a new user will be in the etc/adduser.conf file. Look for these lines:

# Set this if you want the --add_extra_groups option to adduser
# to add new users to other groups.
# This is the list of groups that new non-system users will be added to
# Default:
#EXTRA_GROUPS="dialout cdrom floppy audio video plugdev users"

# If ADD_EXTRA_GROUPS is set to something non-zero, the EXTRA_GROUPS
# option above will be default behavior for adding new, non-system users
#ADD_EXTRA_GROUPS=1

Uncomment both lines, EXTRA_GROUPS and ADD_EXTRA_GROUPS.

Add the desired groups to the EXTRA_GROUPS line.

Is there a gui for this?

Next time you adduser (even through the GUI, which i think is users-admin, part of gnome-system-tools), they will be those groups listed, but I don't think you can make the above changes through the GUI (I could be wrong, of course).

johnywhy

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 288

Re: Where to define extra default groups for new Non-Root "Desktop" users?

many thx, alcornoqui.

#EXTRA_GROUPS="dialout cdrom floppy audio video plugdev users"

Uncomment both lines, EXTRA_GROUPS. Add the desired groups to the EXTRA_GROUPS line.

i believe it's not necessary or logical to include all those other groups in EXTRA_GROUPS. Doesn't make sense to list them here. This setting should only be for EXTRA groups.

i changed the line to include only the extra group that i want:

EXTRA_GROUPS="netdev"

That works. When i changed a user to "Desktop user" type, they got all the default groups, plus the one i listed in adduser.conf.

$ id deleteme4
uid=1002(deleteme4) gid=1002(deleteme4) groups=1002(deleteme4),4(adm),20(dialout),21(fax),24(cdrom),25(floppy),26(tape),29(audio),30(dip),44(video),46(plugdev),108(netdev),120(scanner)

They get the default groups even if the EXTRA_GROUPS line is commented out, in the adduser.conf file. That proves the default groups for Desktop user are hardcoded elsewhere. Imo, those "default" groups don't belong in this list, and should be removed from adduser.conf file in the xfce release.

Notice the list in .conf is almost the same as the groups given to a Desktop user by default. It's all the same groups-- both include:
dialout cdrom floppy audio video plugdev

except:
The list in .conf is missing adm, fax, tape, dip, and scanner.
groups given to a new Desktop user is missing 'users'.

I don't know why they are different, but it seems that "default" list in .conf serves no function. It's not used or needed. The word "default" in .conf is confusing and illogical.

Custom?
I noticed that when i added a new user, it's not an xfce 'Desktop user'. It's listed in the admin tool as user-type "custom". It's not a member of any groups, except itself. I don't understand the logic of that behavior.

$ id deleteme
uid=1002(deleteme) gid=1002(deleteme) groups=1002(deleteme)

THX

Last edited by johnywhy (2018-08-23 17:39:26)

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arch xfce x86_64