Topic: user accounts: initial.surname

[Mo]

Hi,
still quite new to linux.
noticed that e-smith allows user accounts to be created in the initial.surname format.
how does it do that.
usually in linux(es) when i try adding a user it refuses to let me place a period in the username.

very interested to know how e-smith allows it.  i am keen on the initial.surname format.
what have they done to let this format of usernames be created.

[Cyrus Bharda]

Mo,

These are pseudonyms, aliases that point to actual accounts, SME creates them by default for every user you create, using the firsname and lastname entered in the username creation proccess.

For example:

Firstname: Joe
Lastname: Blogs
Username: joeb
Pseudonym 1: joe.blogs@domain.com
Pseudonym 2: joe_blogs@domain.com

You can create as many pseudonyms for a username as you wish, well as far as I can tell.

Cyrus Bharda

[Michiel]

No, they are not pseudonyms. If you run "adduser joe.blogs" on a RedHat machine, you get an error message. However, if you run the same command on a SME box, an account is created with a joe.blogs entry in /etc/passwd and a directory /home/joe.blogs. Apparently the guys at Mitel did not include the standard adduser to the distribution or changed something else.

BTW, this is *NOT* the correct way to create users on SME! These accounts wil not work correctly.

Michiel

[Mo]

they aren't pseudonyms.
i can create accounts with the initial.surname format.
i have created accounts such as initial.surname and sme has then automatically created the firstname.surname and firstname_surname pseudonyms.

my question/intrigue was wondering how sme have allowed this when most linuxes (debian for example) won't let you