how to display users in linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

Linux is a multi-user operating system, allowing multiple users to interact with the system simultaneously. As a system administrator, it's essential to know how to display users in Linux, manage user accounts, and understand their roles. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to display users in Linux, covering various methods and commands.

Understanding Users in Linux

In Linux, users are entities that interact with the system. Each user has a unique username, user ID (UID), and group ID (GID). Users can be either regular users or system users. Regular users are created by the system administrator for everyday use, while system users are created by the system for specific purposes, such as running services or daemons.

Methods to Display Users in Linux

There are several ways to display users in Linux, including:

• Using the who command
• Using the w command
• Using the users command
• Using the /etc/passwd file

Displaying Users with the who Command

The who command is used to display information about currently logged-in users. To use the who command:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type who and press Enter.

The output will display the username, terminal type, and login time for each currently logged-in user.

Displaying Users with the w Command

The w command is used to display information about currently logged-in users, including their username, terminal type, login time, and current activity.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type w and press Enter.

The output will display the username, terminal type, login time, and current activity for each currently logged-in user.

Displaying Users with the users Command

The users command is used to display a list of currently logged-in users.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type users and press Enter.

The output will display a list of currently logged-in users, separated by spaces.

Displaying Users from the /etc/passwd File

The /etc/passwd file contains information about all user accounts on the system. To display users from the /etc/passwd file:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type cat /etc/passwd and press Enter.

The output will display a list of all user accounts on the system, including their username, UID, GID, and home directory.

Filtering and Sorting User Output

You can filter and sort user output using various commands and techniques. For example, you can use the grep command to filter users by username or group membership.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type grep 'john' /etc/passwd and press Enter.

The output will display information about the user account with the username "john".

Managing User Accounts

As a system administrator, you may need to manage user accounts, including creating, modifying, and deleting users. You can use various commands, such as useradd, usermod, and userdel, to manage user accounts.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve provided a comprehensive guide on how to display users in Linux, covering various methods and commands. We’ve also discussed how to filter and sort user output and manage user accounts. By following these steps and techniques, you’ll be able to effectively manage user accounts and understand their roles in your Linux system.