Chapter 17. Users and Groups

During installation of Xubuntu, a single user and password is created. However, any modern operating system permits multiple users to operate the computer while preserving their own personal settings and files. On Xubuntu, each user has their own home directory in which files and settings are stored. Further, each user can be part of one or more groups, which define which parts of the system that user has access to.

To modify the users or groups on your system, you can use the Users And Groups application located in ApplicationsSystemUsers and Groups.

[Note]

You need administrative rights to use this application (see Administrative tasks). You need to log out and in again in order for the changes to become effective.

To add a new user, click on Add user, fill-in the data fields then click OK. To edit the properties of each user, click the Properties button located in the main Users window.

[Note]

To give a new user administrative rights (see Administrative Tasks), edit that user's properties, and under the User Privileges tab, ensure that the Administer the system box is checked.

To add a new group, click on Manage Groups and click Add group. Choose a name for the new group and, if you want, change the default value for the Group ID. If you try to allocate a Group ID that is in use, the system will warn you.

You can add users to the newly created group by selecting the checkbox next to each users name in the Group Members list. Removing a user is as simple as adding one: unselect the checkbox next to a users name. When you are ready, click OK and the new group with its users, if inserted, will be created.

To edit the properties of a group, from within the Groups main window, choose a group name and click on the Properties button.

To remove a user from the system, select the user you want to delete and click Delete.

To remove a group from the system, click on Manage Groups, select the group you want to delete and click Delete