Ooops the useradd line should be:
useradd -d /var/www/consoles -s /usr/bin/rbash username
If rbash does not exist, go to /usr/bin and do
ln bash rbash
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Question
adding a user
I am running a linux based server and want to add a user.
I want this user to only access a directory /var/www/consoles I dont want him to browse any of the other directories on the server.
I want him only to have ftp, I dont want him having any ssh access
What is the easiest way to do this? And I need full commands.
I need this urgently.
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Answers
You lost me here:
2. ftp
once the user is chrooted, you dont have to worry much about what he cannot do (almost nothing),
so you have to create a .bashrc (or other) setting the PATH to be a directory where you put what he can use,
ensure the .bashrc and home dir have correct access rights! (not to modify it)
e.g.
PATH=/var/www/hisbin
contains a link to /usr/bin/ftp
( cd /var/www/hisbin ; ln -s /usr/bin/ftp )
--- Ok, if you did the 1. part well, do
su - newuser
as the new user this should be not working anymore ...
cd /
do control-d to exit the new user restricted shell.
--- Regarding the 2nd part, ftp.
Edit the user home .bashrc file
cd /var/www/consoles
vi .bashrc
Ensure the path of the user is restricted to what tou authorize only. So add a line like:
PATH=/var/www/hisbin
Save. now you have to create the directory hisbin, and create links to programs you want him to be able to use
cd /var/www
mkdir hisbin
cd hisbin
ln -s /usr/bin/ftp
Try again now
su - newuser
Try to enter as the new user
ftp
it should work, now try
ssh
it should *not* work.
--- if you still have problem please provide the output of [newuser being your newuser login]
grep newuser /etc/passwd
ls -l /var/www
ls -l /var/www/hisbin
cat /var/www/consoles/.bashrc
Hem... This is much too complicated.
Just create the user without a shell (/dev/null), and install a really secure ftp server (vsftpd) :
http://vsftpd.beasts.org/
As he has no shell, he will not be able to connect. And the only application you need for him is ftp, so restrict him under the proper software.
1 - Well, do you want an actual user able to login with no access to ssh but access to ftp, from your server
2 - or do you need a ftp account, accessible from outside through ftp? (but not ssh)
The solution proposed in my first answer for the 1st case.
If it is the 2nd case, and you install the vsftpd, ensure you have (at least) the following lines in your vsftpd.conf:
a) ensure this line is yes: [this is for users not to be able to go out of their home dir]
chroot_local_user=YES
b) ensure the following lines are present
userlist_enable=YES
userlist_file=/etc/vsftpd.
userlist_deny=NO
c) put in your /etc/vsftpd.auth (/etc or elsewhere) the list of users able to do ftp on your server, like (newuser is the name of your user)
newuser
Ensure you create the user in this case as
useradd -d /var/www/consoles -s /bin/false newuser
/bin/false is for no login (ssh), commonly used on linux to prevent login.
Please ask if you need more help, as it is exactly the setup I have on my server :)
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by: MercantilumPosted on 2004-04-13 at 22:37:40ID: 10820393
1. create user
user useradd with -s and -d
user -d /var/www/consoles -s rbash username
the user will be "chrooted" in its home directory, e.g. /var/www/consoles.
Ensure access rights are set...
man useradd
for more info.
2. ftp
once the user is chrooted, you dont have to worry much about what he cannot do (almost nothing),
so you have to create a .bashrc (or other) setting the PATH to be a directory where you put what he can use,
ensure the .bashrc and home dir have correct access rights! (not to modify it)
e.g.
PATH=/var/www/hisbin
contains a link to /usr/bin/ftp
( cd /var/www/hisbin ; ln -s /usr/bin/ftp )
Let me know if you need more help.
Regards