What's the difference between the -d and -m options for useradd?

shaunx333

10/24/22, 10:18 AM

When we use useradd, what is the difference between -d and -m? Because the definitions of both sound similar, which is responsible for creating a home directory.

516

1 + 0

useradd

Score:9

Ubuntu

Dan

10/24/22, 10:24 AM

The 2 options are not really similar, but they can work together. If you look at the manpage of useradd you'll find the following:

       -d, --home-dir HOME_DIR
           The new user will be created using HOME_DIR as the value for the user's login
           directory. The default is to append the LOGIN name to BASE_DIR and use that as the
           login directory name. The directory HOME_DIR does not have to exist but will not be
           created if it is missing.

       -m, --create-home
           Create the user's home directory if it does not exist. The files and directories
           contained in the skeleton directory (which can be defined with the -k option) will be
           copied to the home directory.

           By default, if this option is not specified and CREATE_HOME is not enabled, no home
           directories are created.

The -d option is just to set where the home directory of the created user will be but it will not create it if it doesn't exist. While the -m option will create the home directory that is set by -d if it doesn't exist.

0 + 3

Dan

10/24/22, 10:33 AM

Unrelated to your question but, the `useradd` command is a low level command, it is usually [recommended](https://askubuntu.com/q/345974/) to use [`adduser`](https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/hirsute/en/man8/adduser.8.html) instead which is a friendlier frontend for the `useradd` command.

shaunx333

10/24/22, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the tip, actually Im new to linux and currently learning about System administration.

rexkogitans

10/24/22, 7:27 PM

Not every Linux has `adduser`, e.g. Arch Linux and its derivatives.

Elon Musk

I sit in a Tesla and translated this thread with Ai:

EN: What's the difference between the -d and -m options for useradd?

TH: อะไรคือความแตกต่างระหว่าง -d และ -m ตัวเลือกสำหรับ useradd?

RO: Care este diferența dintre opțiunile -d și -m pentru useradd?

RU: В чем разница между опциями -d и -m для useradd?

VI: Sự khác biệt giữa các tùy chọn -d và -m cho useradd là gì?

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