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Linux User Management: Troubleshooting Login Issues

Managing Linux user accounts and passwords is a routine task for many system administrators. In this lab, students are required to resolve a series of login issues for the users in the `app` group by checking the authentication logs as well as the `/etc/passwd` and `/etc/shadow` files.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 15m
Last updated
Clock icon May 19, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    List the Users in the app Group, Then Verify the User Configuration in the /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow Files 

    # grep app /etc/group
# grep <GID> /etc/passwd
# grep user* /etc/shadow

  2. Challenge

    The Double Exclamation Points (!!) in the Password Field of /etc/shadow Indicates That user1 Has Never Had a Password Set, so Set the Password for user1 

    # passwd user1

  3. Challenge

    The 0 in the 8th Field of the /etc/shadow File for user2 Indicates that Account Has Expired and Needs to Be Unlocked 

    # chage -E -1 user2

  4. Challenge

    The Configuration for user3 Is Missing from the /etc/shadow File, so Recreate the shadow File with the pwconv Command 

    # pwconv

  5. Challenge

    Verify That All Users Can Log into the System 

    # ssh user1@<LabServerIP>
   password:
# exit

    # ssh user2@<LabServerIP>
   password:
# exit

    # ssh user3@<LabServerIP>
   password:
# exit
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Pluralsight Skills

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