A common question for new owners of an SGI workstation is 'How do I create an account or how do I manage accounts on my workstation?'. On a Silicon Graphics workstation, account management is actually quite simple. In the sections listed below I will show you how to create, manage, and delete existing accounts.

The User Manager

The easiest way to work with accounts is through the User Manager. There are two methods for starting the user manager.

• From a shell windows, execute the command
  /usr/Cadmin/bin/cpeople
• Or, pull down the System menu in your desktop ToolChest to User Manager and release the mouse button.

The User Manager will startup. When the window appears, you should see a list of User Accounts along with their Full Names, Groups, and Priveledge Levels. A series of buttons are also present at the bottom of the window. In order, they read Open..., Add..., Delete, Close, and Help.

Creating an Account

• Once you have started the User Manager as described above, click on the Add... button to begin creating a new account.
• If you are not a Privileged User, you will be required to enter the root password.
• A window titled, 'Add a User Account', will appear prompting for a login name and a full name. Enter both and click on OK
• The User Account Information window will appear. It is divided into two columns. The left column contains a variety of fields where you may optionally list information about the user and the right column contains questions that you must answer about the user.
• If you wish to complete the left column, enter the user's full name, title, email, company, phone, etc. Again note that you do not have to fill in all of the blanks to create an account.
• Now complete the right column.
• First, answer the three yes/no questions by clicking on the appropriate checkbox.
• Is this person the Primary User on this system?
• Is this person a Privileged User on this system?
  (Click yes if the person is involved in the day to day management of the system.)
• Is this a Network Access account?
  (Click yes if the user can access the system only when it is attached to the network.)
• Next, where it says "This account has no password: Create One", click on Create One. A pop-up window will appear and you may enter a password for the account.
• Then enter the user's new home directory. By default, this is normally /usr/people/username.
• Now select the user's primary group, normally user.
• Accept the default User ID, or create a new but unique User ID.
• Then select the user's default shell. The most commonly used shell at ISU seems to be tcsh.
• Finally, click on OK.
• You should be back at the User Manager window and you should notice that the account you just created now exists.

Managing an Account

• Once you have started the User Manager, you may select an account to manage by clicking on the icon found immediately to the left of the account's username.
• Now click on the Open... button.
• The User Account Information window will appear. Modify any settings you wish and click on OK for the settings to be updated.
• Once you are back at the User Manager, the account should be updated with the changes you requested.

Deleting an Account

• Once you have started the User Manager, you may select an account to delete by clicking on the icon found immediately to the left of the account's username.
• Click on the Delete button.
• A window titled, 'Delete a User Account', will appear asking you whether or not you wish to delete the user's home directory. Answer the question and select OK.
• You will return to the User Manager and the account will be removed.