useradd: cannot lock /etc/passwd; try again later

Question

Trying to add a user:

useradd -c "test" -d /home/bbbbbbbb -e "01-jan-2013" 
  -f 10 -g admin -p secretfgjdhdgd -s /bin/bash -u 123456 blobblob

but getting:

useradd: cannot lock /etc/passwd; try again later.

note that `useradd`'s -p expects an encrypted password. Consider using `newusers` instead. — geirha, Jun 09 '12 at 10:08

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 09 '12 at 02:26

8

You need to run useradd with root privileges, for example by using sudo:

sudo -- useradd -c "test" -d /home/bbbbbbbb -e "01-jan-2013" -f 10 -g admin -p secretfgjdhdgd -s /bin/bash -u 123456 blobblob

answered Jun 09 '12 at 02:26

Florian Diesch

1 Answers1