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Miphix
Asked: 2014-09-15 13:39:45 +0800 CST

How to change the default parent directory for a new users home folder?

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I'm mostly asking this as it's apart of an assignment that asks me to.

"configure the default settings of linux for when you create a new user, their home directories are in /project/users directory by default."

I've already figured out how to set other automatic standards that are requested except this one. I have looked around the /etc/xdg directory and was further baffled by /etc/skel. I have googled the nine lives out of it and searched with a number of different wordings how to do it on this site. If it has been covered already, refer me to it and I will delete this question. Thank you for your help every one.

home-directory

2 Answers

  1. To change the location where a newly created user will have his /home directory reside. You'll have edit /etc/default/useradd and change the HOME=/home to HOME=/directory/you/want/it/to/be

    You'll need finger to verify that this worked:

    $ sudo apt-get install finger

    then follow up with:

    $ gedit /etc/default/useradd

    useradd defaults file:

    GROUP=100
HOME=/home [configure as desired]
INACTIVE=-1
EXPIRE=
SHELL=/bin/bash
SKEL=/etc/skel
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  2. This can be easily done during install, however I'm not sure how to do it on an already installed OS. Basically when you're installing, choose the manual option of partitioning. Place your /home directory elsewhere than the default space. I did this by putting / on my SSD, and putting /home and my swappy data on an HDD for storage. I hope this helps, sorry if I misinterpreted your question.

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