Index

B. Creating UNIX User Accounts

A system user named accelrys must exist in order to install Accelrys software products. This user exists solely for the purpose of installing, testing, and owning the product distribution. This account is not intended for day-to-day use of the product.

This appendix is intended to be a reminder for Accelrys users who are not full-time system administrators. The reader should have a basic knowledge of the UNIX file system and the use of a text editor. The instructions below presume the use of the vi editor.

Modify the /etc/passwd file

Step 1. Log in as the root user on the workstation that will serve as the primary host for the Accelrys product. Change to the /etc directory and prepare to edit the file passwd:

The passwd file is composed of records, one record per line. Each record is divided into fields separated by colons. Inspect the file to be sure there is no line with 800 in either the third or fourth field.

Step 2. Go to the bottom of the file by typing an uppercase G. Inspect the file again and look for a line near the bottom that begins with a plus sign (+). If you find such a line, move the cursor to the line above it. If no line begins with a plus sign, move the cursor to the last line of the file.
Step 3. Open a new line by typing an uppercase O. Add the following line exactly as shown here:

If you found an instance of 800 in the first step, change the corresponding 800 in this line to 801.

The above line defines the user accelrys as follows:

Table 1
Field
Field Contents
You enter

1

user name

msi

2

password

blank (will be added later)

3

user id no.

800

4

group id no.

800

5

description

MSI Products Owner

6

home directory

/home/msi (or appropriate path name)

7

initial shell

/bin/csh

The sixth field contains the full absolute path name of the accelrys account's home directory. If the target host has no /home file system, substitute the appropriate path name.

Step 4. Once you enter a properly formatted line for the accelrys account, press Esc and write the file to disk:

:wq!

The exclamation point forces the edit on this file even if it is configured to be uneditable in your environment.

Assign a name to the accelrys group

Step 1. To assign the name accelrys to group number 800, add an entry to the /etc/group file:
Step 2. Inspect the file to make sure that a group numbered 800 does not already exist. Now go to the bottom of the file by typing an uppercase G. If the last line begins with a plus sign

(+), move the cursor to the line above it. Open a new line by typing an uppercase O. Define the group accelrys by adding the following line:

Step 3. If your inspection showed an existing group 800, substitute 801 in this line. Make sure the group number in the third field of the accelrys entry in this file matches the group number in the fourth field of the accelrys entry in the passwd file:
Step 4. Press Esc and write the file to disk: :wq!

Create the accelrys home directory

Step 1. As the root user, make sure you're running the C-Shell (/bin/csh) before you create the accelrys home directory. Type:

echo $0 If the response is No file for $0, continue to step 2. If the response is anything else, invoke a C-Shell session as follows:

Step 2. Create the accelrys home directory by typing the following:

Add a password to the accelrys account

In order for all of the installation scripts to work correctly, the accelrys account must have a password. To add a password to the accelrys account, login as accelrys and use the passwd command as follows: passwd

The password must be typed the same way both times for the system to accept it. The password does not appear on the screen as you type it. 



 
     


                             
                                   
     
     
     
     
                                   

     


© 2006 Accelrys Software Inc.