Difference between useradd and adduser commands

adduser is for creating an account and useradd is to create a session in a specific environment!

Under RedHat 5, adduser is just a link to "useradd".

[root@vm2 gpf]# ll /usr/sbin/ |grep user
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root Apr 8 2008 adduser -> useradd

I am a beginner with Linux, and when I create a new user with the adduser command, I can log in with this new account. However, when I create a new user with the useradd command, I cannot log in, and I can't even shut down my PC; I have to force it off by pressing the power button.

If you want to know everything, go here:
http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/adduser#creer_un_compte_ou_un_groupe_d_utilisateurs_de_maniere_non-interactive

Re,

It seems logical to me... it must be the only standard command, other Unix systems must have brought in adduser, so for compatibility there might eventually be a link...
A priori, for the Linux RH LPI certifications, only the "useradd" command needs to be known
So that one must be on all distributions, the other is a plus :)

@++

"If it's stupid and it works, then it's not stupid"

Hi asevere.
Under "Suse 8.1," the "useradd" gives the same result, but the "adduser" is unknown to the "bash."
@+

JP___ and don't forget little scarab... "google" is your friend! ;-)

Hello everyone!

Thanks JP for not leaving me all alone :)
This is the result on my Mandrake 9.0
I haven't tested it with others yet
@++

"If it’s stupid and it works, then it’s not stupid"

Hello.
Same as "asevere"

[root@Mandrake root]# adduser usage: adduser [-u uid [-o]] [-g group] [-G group,...] [-d home] [-s shell] [-c comment] [-m [-k template]] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [-p passwd] [-M] [-n] [-r] name adduser -D [-g group] [-b base] [-s shell] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [root@Mandrake root]# useradd usage: useradd [-u uid [-o]] [-g group] [-G group,...] [-d home] [-s shell] [-c comment] [-m [-k template]] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [-p passwd] [-M] [-n] [-r] name useradd -D [-g group] [-b base] [-s shell] [-f inactive] [-e expire ]

For your information: Mandrake 9.0
@+

JP___ and don't forget little scarab... "google" is your friend! ;-)

 [shell]# adduser usage: adduser [-u uid [-o]] [-g group] [-G group,...] [-d home] [-s shell] [-c comment] [-m [-k template]] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [-p passwd] [-M] [-n] [-r] name adduser -D [-g group] [-b base] [-s shell] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [shell]# useradd usage: useradd [-u uid [-o]] [-g group] [-G group,...] [-d home] [-s shell] [-c comment] [-m [-k template]] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [-p passwd] [-M] [-n] [-r] name useradd -D [-g group] [-b base] [-s shell] [-f inactive] [-e expire ] [shell]# ll /usr/sbin/adduser lrwxr-xr-x 1 root root 7 mai 7 21:57 /usr/sbin/adduser -> useradd* 

In my case... (Maybe not for everyone) it's the same thing :)

"If it's stupid and it works, then it isn't stupid"

Hello,
The syntax is roughly as follows (it depends on the
version of Unix/Linux):

usage: useradd [-u uid [-o] [-i]] | -g group | -G group[[,group]...] | -d dir |

-s shell | -c comment | -m [-k skel_dir] | -f inactive | -e expire ] login
useradd -D [-g group | -b base_dir | -f inactive | -e expire ]

USAGE: /sbin/adduser <login id> <name> <user id> <home directory>

The easiest way is to run a man on both commands
and test them to create users

Best regards,

I'm sorry, but your answer doesn't help me better understand the difference between these two commands :)
You indicate that the syntax is different (OK, adduser is not useradd), as well as the options (what are the different options between the two commands?), but that the result is the same (how is that possible, with different options?).

Basically, when should I use adduser, and when should I use useradd?

Hello;
The syntax is different... and the options
but the result is the same.