Course Overview: CentOS 7 User and
Group Management
A Comprehensive Guide with Key Concepts, Labs, and
Certification Alignment
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the Course
2. Certifications Covered
3. Lab Environment Setup
4. Course Modules Breakdown
5. Key Learning Objectives
6. Hands-On Labs
7. Summary and Next Steps
1. Introduction to the Course
Instructor: Andrew Mallett (The Urban Penguin)
Course: CentOS Enterprise Linux 7 User and Group Management
What You’ll Learn
Manage local and directory-based users/groups (LDAP, Kerberos).
Configure Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM).
Set up authentication mechanisms for enterprise environments.
Prerequisites
Completion of CentOS 7 Essentials or equivalent foundational Linux
knowledge.
2. Certifications Covered
This course aligns with two major Linux certifications:
Certification Full Name Exam Type
Practical (Live
LFCS Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin
Lab)
Practical (Live
RHCSA Red Hat Certified System Administrator
Lab)
Exam Details
LFCS: Available on CentOS 7, openSUSE 13.1, or Ubuntu 14.04.
RHCSA: Focuses on Red Hat/CentOS environments.
3. Lab Environment Setup
Requirements
Two CentOS 7.2 Virtual Machines:
o Server1: GUI installed (optional).
o Server2: Command-line only (recommended for practice).
Virtualization Software:
o Oracle VirtualBox (used in the course).
o Alternatives: VMware Player, KVM.
Network Setup
Machines should be networked (via NAT or bridged adapters).
4. Course Modules Breakdown
Module 1: Introduction to User and Group Management
Topics:
o Local vs. directory-based users (LDAP).
o The getent command for querying user/group databases.
Key Command:
bash
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getent passwd # Lists all users (local + LDAP)
Module 2: Managing Login Scripts
Login vs. Non-Login Shells:
o Login Shell: Runs /etc/profile, ~/.bash_profile.
o Non-Login Shell: Runs only ~/.bashrc.
Customizing Defaults:
o Edit /etc/skel/ to template new user environments.
Module 3: Creating and Managing Local Users
Commands Covered:
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useradd -m user1 # Create user with home directory
passwd user1 # Set password
usermod -aG wheel user1 # Add to sudo group
userdel -r user1 # Delete user + home dir
Module 4: PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules)
Purpose: Control authentication policies (e.g., password complexity).
Config File: /etc/pam.d/.
Module 5: LDAP and Kerberos Integration
OpenLDAP Setup: Centralized user management.
Kerberos: Secure authentication for networked services.
5. Key Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
✅ Create and manage local users/groups in CentOS 7.
✅ Configure password policies and aging (chage).
✅ Modify login scripts (/etc/profile, ~/.bashrc).
✅ Integrate with LDAP/Kerberos for enterprise authentication.
✅ Prepare for LFCS/RHCSA certification exams.
6. Hands-On Labs
Lab 1: Exploring getent
Objective: Query user/group databases.
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getent passwd # List all users
getent group # List all groups
getent hosts # List network hosts
Lab 2: Customizing Login Scripts
Objective: Modify default prompts.
1. Edit /etc/bashrc:
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sudo vi /etc/bashrc
2. Change PS1 to show full path:
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PS1='[\u@\h \w]\$ ' # Replace \W with \w
Lab 3: LDAP Integration (Preview)
Objective: Authenticate users via LDAP.
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sudo authconfig --enableldap --enableldapauth --update
7. Summary and Next Steps
Key Takeaways
User Management: useradd, usermod, userdel.
Authentication: PAM, LDAP, Kerberos.
Certification Prep: Aligns with LFCS/RHCSA objectives.
What’s Next?
Proceed to Module 3: Creating and Managing Local Users.
Set up your lab environment for hands-on practice.
Final Notes
Practice all commands in a virtual lab.
Refer to man pages (e.g., man useradd) for deeper dives.
Join Pluralsight’s community for Q&A and support.
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