Linux User Management: Managing User Files and Processes

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Linux User Management: Managing User Files and Processes

Removing users, as well as files and directories owned by specific users, is a routine task for most Systems Administrators. In this lab, we will remove a user and their home directory from the system, then search for any other files or directories owned by them and transfer ownership of those to a new user. Then we will search for and kill any processes owned by that user as well.

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Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Sep 23, 2025

Duration

15m

Challenge

Search for Any Running Processes Owned by the test User. Kill the Process by the Process ID (PID)
```
$ ps U test
$ kill < PID > 
```
Challenge

Search the System for All Files Owned by the test User, Then Change the Owner and Group to ec2-user on Any Files That Are outside of the Home Directory and the Mail Spool
```
$ find / -user test
$ chown ec2-user:ec2-user /var/tmp/appconfig.sh
$ chown ec2-user:ec2-user /tmp/list.txt
```
Challenge

Remove the test User and Home Directory from the System
```
$ userdel -r test
```
Challenge

Verify That the Home Directory and the Mail Spool Were Removed. Also Verify That There Are No Other Files Owned by the test User on the System
```
$ find / -user test
```
```
$ ls /home
```
```
$ ls /var/spool/mail
```

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