[K12OSN] batch adding users

[Petre Scheie]

I would add the suggestion of using random passwords, since, if you use the same default 
password for everyone, it won't take long for some kids to figure out they can get into 
other folks accounts.  You can use the $RANDOM  variable, which will give you a 
different random 5-digit number every time you echo it.

Petre

Jim Kronebusch wrote:
>>I've just finished a fresh install of 4.2.1 and I want to add 
>>a new list of users which I took from our SISystem....it's a 
>>plain text list in a 'lastname, firstname' format....what I 
>>would like to do is add them with either a random or generic 
>>password, make them change it at the first login attempt, and 
>>require at least 6 characters that don't contain their name 
>>or username....can someone tell me or point me to a 'how to' 
>>or script to do this...this is new for me so I'll definately 
>>need some good documentation ;-( TIA, John.....
> 
> 
> If you're not using SAMBA/LDAP I really like the batch upload feature
> included in the user module of Webmin.  Check it out, there are quick
> easy instructions explaining the layout of the file to be imported.  In
> Open Office Calc you should be able to write some quick formulas and
> fill down to complete the required fields.  If you don't have a value
> just leave it blank between colons and it should generate with the
> default value.
>  
>  
> create:username:passwd:uid:gid:realname:homedir:shell:min:max:warn:inact
> ive:expire
>  create:username:::realname:homefolder:shell:::::
> 
> Here is the description from Webmin:
> In create lines, if the uid field is left empty, Webmin will assign a
> UID automatically. If the gid field is empty, Webmin will create a new
> group with the same name as the user. The username, homedir and shell
> fields must be supplied for every user - all other fields are allowed to
> be empty. If the passwd field is blank, no password will be assigned for
> the user. If it contains just the letter x, the account will be locked.
> Otherwise, the text in the field will be taken as the cleartext password
> and encrypted.
> In modify lines, an empty field will be taken to mean that the
> corresponding user attribute is not to be modified.
> 
>