View source for Change the home directory using usermod

== Change the home directory using usermod ==


=== Change the home directory using usermod ===
This method is for command line warriors.

Before you use the usermod command the new home directory should be created, ownership should be assigned<br>
to the new user and the folder should be chmoded correctly so that no one else can access it.

 * Run the following commands to do it.<br>
   * '''mkdir /home/new_home_directory'''
   * '''chown username:username /home/new_home_directory'''
   * '''chmod 700 /home/new_home_directory'''
   * '''usermod --home /home/new_home_directory username'''
   * '''Change the home directory by editing /etc/passwd'''

=== Change the home directory by editing /etc/passwd ===

'''Alternatively you can also edit the /etc/passwd to change the home directory.'''

But you should be careful not to edit anything else.<br>
Before editing this file it is always better to create the new home directory and assign proper permissions and ownership to it. 

  * Execute the following commands.<br>
   * '''mkdir /home/new_home_directory'''
   * '''chown username:username /home/new_home_directory'''
   * '''chmod 700 /home/new_home_directory'''

Open the /etc/passwd file using a text editor and locate the line containing the required username it should look something like this
username:x:500:500::/home/username:/bin/bash

'''''<span style="color:#FF0000">NOTE:</span>''''' You must be '''<span style="color:#FF0000">ROOT</span>''' to modify this file.

change it to:<br>
username:x:500:500::/home/new_home_directory:/bin/bash

''Example''

''From:''<br>
dwmoar:x:500:500:David M.:'''/home/dwmoar''':/bin/bash

''To:''<br>
dwmoar:x:500:500:David M.:'''/home/members/dwmoar''':/bin/bash


'''<span style="color:#0000FF"> Save the file. </span>''' 
- Again you must be the '''<span style="color:#FF0000">ROOT</span>''' user.


'''Finally''' copy all the old content to the new home directory

cp -f /home/username/* /home/new_home_dir/




[[category:HowTo]]