glfs/postlfs/config/skel.xml

<sect1 id="postlfs-config-skel">
<?dbhtml filename="skel.html" dir="postlfs"?>
<title>/etc/skel</title>

<para>The <filename>/etc/skel</filename> directory is quite simple
to setup and use.  It provides a way to make sure that all new users on
your LFS system begin with the same settings.  The
<filename>/etc/skel</filename> directory is used by the
<filename>/usr/sbin/useradd</filename> program.</para>

<para>For more information see <userinput>man useradd</userinput>.</para>

<para>To get started create a <filename>/etc/skel</filename> directory.
Creating the directory as root is the best way to go.  Next copy any
files into <filename>/etc/skel</filename> that you want every new user
to have placed in their home drive.  Examples include
<filename>.bash_profile</filename>, <filename>.bashrc</filename>,
<filename>.bash_logout</filename>, <filename>dircolors</filename>,
<filename>.inputrc</filename>, and <filename>.vimrc</filename>.</para>

<para>When creating a new user with
<filename>/usr/sbin/useradd</filename> use the <userinput>-m</userinput>
parameter.  For example:</para>

<para><screen><userinput>useradd -m -s/bin/bash jwrober</userinput></screen></para>

<para>The <filename>/usr/sbin/useradd</filename> program uses a
collection of default values.  It will read them from the
<filename>/etc/default/useradd</filename> file if it exists.  If the
file does not exist, then it uses some internal defaults.  They can be
found by running <userinput>/usr/sbin/useradd -D</userinput>.</para>

<para>To change these values to something new, create a base
<filename>/etc/default/useradd</filename> file with the same values as
the output of <userinput>/usr/sbin/useradd -D</userinput>.  Here is a
sample.</para>

<para><screen># Begin /etc/default/useradd

GROUP=100
HOME=/home
INACTIVE=-1
EXPIRE=
SHELL=
SKEL=/etc/skel

# End /etc/default/useradd</screen></para>

<para>The only thing missing from the file is a default shell.  Add that
by running:</para>

<para><screen><userinput>/usr/sbin/useradd -D -s/bin/bash</userinput></screen></para>

<para>This will set the <userinput>SHELL=</userinput> line to
<userinput>SHELL=/bin/bash</userinput>.  This makes it even easier to
add new users to your LFS system.  The
<filename>/usr/sbin/useradd</filename> has many parameters that can be
set in the <filename>/etc/default/useradd</filename> file.  See the man
page for more details.</para>

</sect1>