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Asked: 2024-09-24T23:09:34+05:30 In:

I am facing an issue when trying to create a new user in Ubuntu; it seems that I’m not permitted to do so. What could be the underlying problem and how can I resolve it?

I’ve been having a bit of a rough time trying to create a new user on my Ubuntu system, and it’s really starting to frustrate me. So here’s the situation: every time I try to add a new user using the command line, I run into a permission issue. I’ve checked my user account, and I definitely thought I had the right privileges to manage users, but clearly something’s off.

I’m running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and when I execute the command to add a user, I get hit with a “permission denied” or “operation not permitted” message. I’ve tried using `sudo` before the command since I assumed I might need elevated permissions, but that didn’t work either. It just feels like I’m hitting a brick wall here.

I’m the only one using this machine, so I really thought I’d have full control over user management. I checked my group memberships, and I noticed I’m listed under the `sudo` group, so I should technically be able to run administrative commands. But for some reason, it feels like there’s some additional restriction in place that I can’t pin down.

I also tried looking for system logs to see if there were any clues or error messages, but that didn’t yield much help. I’ve googled similar issues, and it seems others have faced this stumbling block too, but the solutions seem to vary. Some suggest checking the `/etc/sudoers` file, while others talk about user account settings.

I’m not super experienced with the command line, so I get a little hesitant diving into those files without knowing exactly what to look for or what adjustments to make. Has anyone else run into this or have any ideas on what could be going wrong? I’d really appreciate any step-by-step tips or suggestions; I just want to get this sorted out so I can create the new user I need for a project I’m working on. Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers

    1. It sounds like you’re facing a frustrating issue with user management on your Ubuntu 22.04 LTS system. Given that you’re encountering “permission denied” messages even when using `sudo`, there are a couple of areas to investigate further. First, ensure that the command you are executing follows the correct syntax. The standard command for adding a user is sudo adduser username, where username is the name of the new user you wish to create. If you are still facing permission issues, it could be beneficial to check the settings in your /etc/sudoers file to confirm that your user is correctly listed with appropriate privileges. You can do this by executing sudo visudo from the terminal, which opens the sudoers file for editing while preventing configuration errors.

      If modifying the sudoers file doesn’t resolve the issue, consider checking for any restrictive settings in your system that may be affecting user management, such as SELinux or AppArmor profiles. To explore these further, you can check the status of AppArmor with the command sudo aa-status. If you see any enforced profiles related to user management, that could also be a direction to investigate. Additionally, since you mentioned that you’re hesitant to delve into command line configurations, consider seeking guidance or help from forums or community platforms, where you can receive more tailored support. Once you address the permissions and configurations, you should be able to comfortably add new users to your system.



    2. Help with Ubuntu User Management


      It sounds like you’re really running into some issues creating a new user. That’s frustrating! Let’s work through a few things to see if we can get you sorted out.

      First, when you try to add a user, you should be using the following command:

      sudo adduser username

      Just replace username with whatever you want the new user’s name to be.

      If you’re still getting “permission denied” or “operation not permitted” messages, it might be worth checking a few things:

      1. Check if you’re in the sudo group: You mentioned you are, but just to confirm, run this command:

        groups

        You should see sudo listed there.

      2. Confirm sudo is working: Try running a simple command with sudo, like:

        sudo ls

        This should work without issue to confirm sudo privileges are functioning.

      3. Check your /etc/sudoers file: Be very careful here! You can open this file with a command like:

        sudo visudo

        Look for lines that contain your username or the sudo group. It should look something like:

        yourusername ALL=(ALL) ALL

        Just make sure there are no typos or mistakes in this part.

      4. Try running the adduser command with absolute path: Sometimes there could be issues with path that’s set. Try this:

        sudo /usr/sbin/adduser username

      5. Check if your system is up to date: Sometimes glitches can happen if packages are outdated. Make sure to update your system with:

        sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

        Then, try the adduser command again.

      If you’ve tried all of this and it’s still not working, consider restarting your machine. It might sound silly, but sometimes a reboot can clear up odd issues.

      Don’t hesitate to reach out for more help if you’re still stuck. I hope one of these tips helps you get that new user created!


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