Manage Template User Environment

In this article, you'll learn how to manage the template user environment in Linux through the use of the /etc/skel directory. When a new user account is created, the content of /etc/skel is automatically copied into the user's home directory. This feature ensures that every user begins with a consistent set of configurations and files.

Imagine you want to inform every new user about a default policy while existing users are already familiar with it. To achieve this, you can add a custom file containing your policy message directly into /etc/skel.

Adding a Custom README

To add a custom README in /etc/skel, follow these steps:

1. Open the README file in your preferred text editor:

   $ sudo vim /etc/skel/README
   

2. Inside the file, add the following text:

   Please don't run CPU intensive processes between 8 AM and 10 PM.

3. Save the file.

Now, whenever you create a new user, the README file (along with other configuration files) will automatically be copied to the user’s home directory.

Testing the Configuration by Creating a New User

Let's test the configuration by creating a new user named "trinity":

$ sudo adduser trinity

After creating the user, you can verify that all files from /etc/skel have been copied, including hidden files such as .bashrc. List all files in Trinity’s home directory with the following command:

$ sudo ls -a /home/trinity
.  ..  .bash_logout  .bash_profile  .bashrc  README

Trinity can review the content of the README with:

$ cat /home/trinity/README

Understanding Environment Variables Setup

The file .bashrc in a user's home directory is responsible for setting up the shell environment. For instance, if you open Trinity's .bashrc:

$ sudo vim /home/trinity/.bashrc

you might notice that the PATH variable is configured to include local binary directories. To display the current PATH, you can run:

$ echo $PATH
/home/trinity/.local/bin:/home/trinity/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin

Modifying the PATH for Future Users

If you need to modify the PATH variable for all new users, update the .bashrc template located in /etc/skel. For example, suppose you want to include an additional directory (/opt/bin) in the PATH for every new user. Open the template file with:

$ sudo vim /etc/skel/.bashrc

Then, update the PATH variable as follows:

PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:$PATH"
PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:/opt/bin:$PATH"

Any changes made to files in /etc/skel will be automatically applied when new user accounts are created, ensuring a standardized environment for all users.

For more detailed information on managing user environments and best practices, consider exploring the Linux Documentation Project or related system administration guides.