What is the fastest way to create multiple thousands of users on a system?
I need to create multiple thousands of users on a linux system. Currently I use the newusers command with a file as the source for all the users. The file contains around 10000 users. Running
$ newusers /tmp/users.txt
works and creates the users, but it takes very long to complete.
The users don't need a shell, a home directory or a password. They also don’t need to be able to login. The users are needed for ssh tunnel purposes.
Is there a way to do this more quick?
linux users performance
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
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I need to create multiple thousands of users on a linux system. Currently I use the newusers command with a file as the source for all the users. The file contains around 10000 users. Running
$ newusers /tmp/users.txt
works and creates the users, but it takes very long to complete.
The users don't need a shell, a home directory or a password. They also don’t need to be able to login. The users are needed for ssh tunnel purposes.
Is there a way to do this more quick?
linux users performance
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Probably not an answer: import them into LDAP.
– Jeff Schaller
1 hour ago
This is really not an answer since I need the users on the system for ssh purposes. I’ll update the question thank you!
– p0fi
1 hour ago
That is the best advice for that number of users actually. Setting ldap for authentication
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
I don’t need authentification other than a ssh key
– p0fi
1 hour ago
1
Have you thought about doing it the hard way? Take your user list, add the passwd fields to each user, then append that to the passwd file. You then make their homes using the original file with their list of names, copying /etc/skel over if needed. Absolutely not sure if that is faster than newusers.
– number9
57 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
I need to create multiple thousands of users on a linux system. Currently I use the newusers command with a file as the source for all the users. The file contains around 10000 users. Running
$ newusers /tmp/users.txt
works and creates the users, but it takes very long to complete.
The users don't need a shell, a home directory or a password. They also don’t need to be able to login. The users are needed for ssh tunnel purposes.
Is there a way to do this more quick?
linux users performance
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I need to create multiple thousands of users on a linux system. Currently I use the newusers command with a file as the source for all the users. The file contains around 10000 users. Running
$ newusers /tmp/users.txt
works and creates the users, but it takes very long to complete.
The users don't need a shell, a home directory or a password. They also don’t need to be able to login. The users are needed for ssh tunnel purposes.
Is there a way to do this more quick?
linux users performance
linux users performance
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
p0fi
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
asked 2 hours ago
p0fip0fi
1012
1012
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
p0fi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Probably not an answer: import them into LDAP.
– Jeff Schaller
1 hour ago
This is really not an answer since I need the users on the system for ssh purposes. I’ll update the question thank you!
– p0fi
1 hour ago
That is the best advice for that number of users actually. Setting ldap for authentication
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
I don’t need authentification other than a ssh key
– p0fi
1 hour ago
1
Have you thought about doing it the hard way? Take your user list, add the passwd fields to each user, then append that to the passwd file. You then make their homes using the original file with their list of names, copying /etc/skel over if needed. Absolutely not sure if that is faster than newusers.
– number9
57 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
1
Probably not an answer: import them into LDAP.
– Jeff Schaller
1 hour ago
This is really not an answer since I need the users on the system for ssh purposes. I’ll update the question thank you!
– p0fi
1 hour ago
That is the best advice for that number of users actually. Setting ldap for authentication
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
I don’t need authentification other than a ssh key
– p0fi
1 hour ago
1
Have you thought about doing it the hard way? Take your user list, add the passwd fields to each user, then append that to the passwd file. You then make their homes using the original file with their list of names, copying /etc/skel over if needed. Absolutely not sure if that is faster than newusers.
– number9
57 mins ago
1
1
Probably not an answer: import them into LDAP.
– Jeff Schaller
1 hour ago
Probably not an answer: import them into LDAP.
– Jeff Schaller
1 hour ago
This is really not an answer since I need the users on the system for ssh purposes. I’ll update the question thank you!
– p0fi
1 hour ago
This is really not an answer since I need the users on the system for ssh purposes. I’ll update the question thank you!
– p0fi
1 hour ago
That is the best advice for that number of users actually. Setting ldap for authentication
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
That is the best advice for that number of users actually. Setting ldap for authentication
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
I don’t need authentification other than a ssh key
– p0fi
1 hour ago
I don’t need authentification other than a ssh key
– p0fi
1 hour ago
1
1
Have you thought about doing it the hard way? Take your user list, add the passwd fields to each user, then append that to the passwd file. You then make their homes using the original file with their list of names, copying /etc/skel over if needed. Absolutely not sure if that is faster than newusers.
– number9
57 mins ago
Have you thought about doing it the hard way? Take your user list, add the passwd fields to each user, then append that to the passwd file. You then make their homes using the original file with their list of names, copying /etc/skel over if needed. Absolutely not sure if that is faster than newusers.
– number9
57 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Here's the way I would do it, since they are all local accounts:
1. Determine the range of userIDs
2. Determine the group ID(s) for the users
3. Write a script that will:
a. create a temporary password file filled with the information you need
${username}:x:${userid}:${groupid}::${homedir}:/bin/false
b. create a temporary shadow file with the information you need
${username}:!!:1:0:99999:7:::
4. append the temporary shadow file to /etc/shadow and the temporary password file to /etc/passwd
NB1: I am not sure if the ${homedir} can be blank, /dev/null, or something else
NB2: If you are not using /etc/shadow, replace the :x: in passwd with :!!:
That ought to be fairly quick (however long it takes to create the temp files), quickly update passwd & shadow fileswithout any other password hashing, UID searching, etc.
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
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Here's the way I would do it, since they are all local accounts:
1. Determine the range of userIDs
2. Determine the group ID(s) for the users
3. Write a script that will:
a. create a temporary password file filled with the information you need
${username}:x:${userid}:${groupid}::${homedir}:/bin/false
b. create a temporary shadow file with the information you need
${username}:!!:1:0:99999:7:::
4. append the temporary shadow file to /etc/shadow and the temporary password file to /etc/passwd
NB1: I am not sure if the ${homedir} can be blank, /dev/null, or something else
NB2: If you are not using /etc/shadow, replace the :x: in passwd with :!!:
That ought to be fairly quick (however long it takes to create the temp files), quickly update passwd & shadow fileswithout any other password hashing, UID searching, etc.
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
add a comment |
Here's the way I would do it, since they are all local accounts:
1. Determine the range of userIDs
2. Determine the group ID(s) for the users
3. Write a script that will:
a. create a temporary password file filled with the information you need
${username}:x:${userid}:${groupid}::${homedir}:/bin/false
b. create a temporary shadow file with the information you need
${username}:!!:1:0:99999:7:::
4. append the temporary shadow file to /etc/shadow and the temporary password file to /etc/passwd
NB1: I am not sure if the ${homedir} can be blank, /dev/null, or something else
NB2: If you are not using /etc/shadow, replace the :x: in passwd with :!!:
That ought to be fairly quick (however long it takes to create the temp files), quickly update passwd & shadow fileswithout any other password hashing, UID searching, etc.
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
add a comment |
Here's the way I would do it, since they are all local accounts:
1. Determine the range of userIDs
2. Determine the group ID(s) for the users
3. Write a script that will:
a. create a temporary password file filled with the information you need
${username}:x:${userid}:${groupid}::${homedir}:/bin/false
b. create a temporary shadow file with the information you need
${username}:!!:1:0:99999:7:::
4. append the temporary shadow file to /etc/shadow and the temporary password file to /etc/passwd
NB1: I am not sure if the ${homedir} can be blank, /dev/null, or something else
NB2: If you are not using /etc/shadow, replace the :x: in passwd with :!!:
That ought to be fairly quick (however long it takes to create the temp files), quickly update passwd & shadow fileswithout any other password hashing, UID searching, etc.
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
Here's the way I would do it, since they are all local accounts:
1. Determine the range of userIDs
2. Determine the group ID(s) for the users
3. Write a script that will:
a. create a temporary password file filled with the information you need
${username}:x:${userid}:${groupid}::${homedir}:/bin/false
b. create a temporary shadow file with the information you need
${username}:!!:1:0:99999:7:::
4. append the temporary shadow file to /etc/shadow and the temporary password file to /etc/passwd
NB1: I am not sure if the ${homedir} can be blank, /dev/null, or something else
NB2: If you are not using /etc/shadow, replace the :x: in passwd with :!!:
That ought to be fairly quick (however long it takes to create the temp files), quickly update passwd & shadow fileswithout any other password hashing, UID searching, etc.
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
answered 31 mins ago
Scottie HScottie H
576
576
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Probably not an answer: import them into LDAP.
– Jeff Schaller
1 hour ago
This is really not an answer since I need the users on the system for ssh purposes. I’ll update the question thank you!
– p0fi
1 hour ago
That is the best advice for that number of users actually. Setting ldap for authentication
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
I don’t need authentification other than a ssh key
– p0fi
1 hour ago
1
Have you thought about doing it the hard way? Take your user list, add the passwd fields to each user, then append that to the passwd file. You then make their homes using the original file with their list of names, copying /etc/skel over if needed. Absolutely not sure if that is faster than newusers.
– number9
57 mins ago