Bug 441460 - useradd error message unhelpful
Summary: useradd error message unhelpful
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED CURRENTRELEASE
Alias: None
Product: Fedora
Classification: Fedora
Component: shadow-utils
Version: 8
Hardware: All
OS: Linux
low
medium
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Peter Vrabec
QA Contact: Fedora Extras Quality Assurance
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2008-04-08 08:28 UTC by JW
Modified: 2008-04-09 05:21 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

Fixed In Version: 4.0.18.1-22.fc8
Doc Type: Bug Fix
Doc Text:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2008-04-09 05:21:53 UTC
Type: ---
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description JW 2008-04-08 08:28:44 UTC
Description of problem:
useradd doesn't like telling you why the command-line is a syntax error
And/or the particular command-line is not faulty.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
shadow-utils-4.0.18.1-18

How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. useradd -M -b /home/users testac


Actual results:
Usage: useradd [options] LOGIN
Options:....


Expected results:
Should work, or should say why it is a syntax error.

Additional info:
There is nothing in the usage or manual to indicate that -M or -b are somehow
exclusive.  There is nothing wrong with specifying -M (dont create home
directory) and the -b option (where home directory base is ... needed to enter
into passwd file anyhow).

Apparently -b requires a -D. But the plain usage() is really quite lame and
unhelpful. Wouldn't all those usage()'s be better replaced with fatal("This is
the reason for the failure").

How much would that cost?

Comment 1 Fedora Update System 2008-04-08 13:20:50 UTC
shadow-utils-4.0.18.1-22.fc8 has been submitted as an update for Fedora 8

Comment 2 JW 2008-04-08 13:47:41 UTC
shadow-utils-4.1.1 looks a lot better with useful error messages.


Comment 3 Fedora Update System 2008-04-09 05:21:51 UTC
shadow-utils-4.0.18.1-22.fc8 has been pushed to the Fedora 8 stable repository.  If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.


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