A new junior system administrator has been tasked with reviewing user accounts on a vital Linux server. While inspecting the /etc/passwd file, they noticed an account entry that does not have a corresponding /home directory. Which of the following are potential explanations for this situation?
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The user associated with the account has been assigned to an incorrect group, which is why the home directory is missing.
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The account has an expired password and, therefore, the home directory was removed automatically.
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The account's default shell is set to /usr/sbin/nologin, which implies that no home directory was created when the account was added.
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The account is intended for a system service or process and is not designed for regular user login activities.
In the /etc/passwd file, it is common for system accounts to not have a corresponding /home directory because these accounts are not meant for regular user logins and do not require personal storage space. They're typically used for running specific services or tasks. Standard user accounts should normally be configured with a home directory. The presence of nologin as the shell is an additional confirmation that the account is not intended for interactive login, but it is not a direct indicator of the absence of the home directory. Accounts with shells set to /usr/sbin/nologin or /bin/false can still have home directories configured for storing service data, even though they don't provide shell access. The other answers include misconceptions, as an expired password or incorrect group assignments would not cause an account to lack a home directory; these issues would affect the ability to login or permissions, respectively.
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What types of accounts are typically found in the /etc/passwd file on a Linux server?
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What role does the /usr/sbin/nologin shell play in user account management?
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Can a system account still have a home directory, and under what circumstances?