Managing user accounts is a foundational aspect of Ubuntu system administration. Whether you’re setting up a shared workstation, configuring a server, or simply trying to understand who else has access to your system, knowing how to view users is crucial. In this guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to list and understand user accounts on Ubuntu, ensuring you have full visibility and control over your system’s access points.
Advantages of Viewing Users on Ubuntu
Knowing how to view users on Ubuntu brings several advantages, especially in terms of system administration, security, and user management. Here are some key benefits:
- Security and Monitoring. Identifying all users on the system helps in detecting unauthorized accounts that might pose security threats. By regularly checking active users can help you spot any unexpected or unauthorized access.
- System Administration. By viewing users, administrators can manage permissions, allocate resources, and set quotas more efficiently. This helps in diagnosing issues related to user-specific configurations and applications.
- Resource Management. Administrators can identify which users consume the most resources, potentially optimizing system performance.
- Troubleshooting. Knowing which users are currently logged in or were recently active can be valuable when diagnosing system issues or user-specific problems.
- Documentation and Reporting. For IT teams, having a clear view of all system users aids in documenting system setups and configurations
How to List All Users on Ubuntu
To begin learning how to view users on Ubuntu, follow this step-by-step guide.
#1 Open the Terminal
Your first step is to open the terminal. You can do this by searching for “Terminal” in the application menu or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T.
#2 List Users from /etc/passwd File
All users on a Linux system, including system users, are stored in the /etc/passwd file. To see a list of all users run this command.
cat /etc/passwdSample Output:
#3 Interpreting the Output
The /etc/passwd file’s output consists of multiple colon-separated fields. Here’s a quick breakdown of these fields:
| Username | The user’s login name. |
| Password | An x here indicates that the password is stored in the /etc/shadow file. |
| User ID (UID) | A unique user identification number. |
| Group ID (GID) | The primary group ID, which references a group in /etc/group. |
| User Info | This field can be used for extra user description, but it’s often left empty or just contains the user’s full name. |
| Home Directory | The path to the user’s home directory. |
| Command/Shell | The command/shell that’s executed upon user login. Typically, this will be /bin/bash for users, but it can be another shell or command, especially for system users. |
#4 Filtering for Human Users
Not all users listed in /etc/passwd are human users. Many are system users created for specific services. If you want to see a more concise list of human users, typically those with a user ID (UID) greater than 1000, you can use:
getent passwd {1000..60000} | cut -d: -f1#5 Using the id Command
To get detailed information about a specific user, including their groups, you can use the id command followed by the username:
id usernameReplace username with the name of the user you want to inspect.
Keep in mind, Ubuntu offers a variety of tools and commands to manage and access user information. The methods highlighted in this context are among the most frequently used. With this knowledge, you can now list all users on your Ubuntu system.
Conclusion
Want to run Ubuntu in a virtual environment? With Gcore Cloud, you can choose from Basic VM, Virtual Instances, or VPS/VDS suitable for Ubuntu:
- Gcore Basic VM offers shared virtual machines from €3.2 per month
- Virtual Instances are virtual machines with a variety of configurations and an application marketplace
- Virtual Dedicated Servers provide outstanding speed of 200+ Mbps in 20+ global locations
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This enables organizations to prepare for potential attacks before they occur.At Gcore, our WAAP solution combines these features to provide comprehensive protection. By leveraging cutting-edge AI and machine learning, Gcore WAAP detects and mitigates threats in real time, keeping web applications and APIs secure even from zero-day attacks.More prevention techniquesBeyond WAAP, layering protection techniques can further enhance your business’ ability to ward off zero-day attacks. 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By leveraging behavioral analytics, automated patching, and advanced threat intelligence, businesses can minimize their risk and stay ahead of attackers.Gcore’s AI-powered WAAP provides the robust protection your business needs to defend against zero-day attacks. With real-time threat detection, virtual patching, and API security, Gcore WAAP ensures that your web applications remain protected against even the most advanced cyber threats, including zero-day threats. Don’t wait until it’s too late—secure your business today with Gcore’s cutting-edge security solutions.Discover how WAAP can help stop zero-day attacks
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Popular hypervisors like VirtualBox and VMware enable users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously while providing strong isolation.Modern hypervisors optimize performance by giving VMs direct access to certain hardware components when possible, reducing the need for constant intervention. However, some level of overhead remains because the hypervisor still needs to manage and coordinate resources efficiently. This means that while VMs can leverage most of the system’s hardware, they can’t use 100% of it, as some processing power is always reserved for managing virtualization itself. This small trade-off is often worth it, as hypervisors keep each VM isolated and secure, preventing one VM from interfering with another.VM layersFigure 1 illustrates the layers of a system virtual machine setup. The layer model can vary depending on the hypervisor. Some hypervisors include a built-in host operating system, while modern hardware offers native virtualization support. Many hypervisors can also manage multiple physical machines and VMs efficiently.VM snapshots are an essential feature in cloud computing, allowing users to quickly restore a virtual machine to a previous state.Figure 1: Layers of system virtual machinesHypervisors that emulate hardware architectures different from what the guest OS expects have a bigger overhead, as they can’t relay commands directly to the hardware without first translating them.VM snapshotsVM snapshots are an essential feature in cloud computing, allowing users to quickly restore a virtual machine to a previous state. The hypervisor can save the complete state of the VM and restore it at a later time to skip the boot process of the guest OS. The hypervisor can also move these snapshots between different physical machines, making the software running in the VM completely independent from the underlying hardware.What are the benefits of using VMs?Virtual machines offer benefits including resource efficiency, isolation, simplified operations, easy migration, faster deployment, cost savings, and security. Let’s look at these one by one.Multiple VMs can run on a single physical machine, making sharing resources between various guest operating systems easier. This is especially important when each guest OS needs to be isolated from the others, such as when they belong to different customers of a cloud service provider. Sharing resources through VMs makes running a server cheaper because you don’t have to buy or rent a whole physical machine, but only parts of it.Since VMs abstract the underlying hardware, they also improve resilience. If the physical machine fails, the hypervisor can perform a quick recovery by moving the snapshots to another machine without changing the guest OS installations to minimize downtime. This abstraction also allows operations teams to focus their deployment efforts on a standardized VM instead of considering different physical implementations.Migrations become easier with snapshots as you can simply move them to a faster machine without modifying the software running inside the VM.Faster deployments are possible because starting a VM is just a software execution instead of setting up a physical server in a data center. While you had to buy a server or rent it for months, with fast deployments, you can now rent a machine for hours, minutes, or even seconds, which allows for quite some savings.Modern CPUs have built-in virtualization features that enable easy resource sharing and enforce the isolation at the hardware layer. This prevents the services of one VM from accessing the resources of the others, improving security compared to running multiple apps inside one OS.Common use cases for VMsVMs have a range of use cases. Let’s look at the most popular ones.Cloud computingThe most popular use case is cloud computing, where VMs allow the secure sharing of the cloud provider’s resources, enabling their customers to rent only the resources they need for the period their workload will run.Software development and testingSoftware development often requires specific tools and libraries that aren’t available on a production machine, so having a development VM with all these tools preinstalled can be helpful. An example is cloud IDEs, which look and feel like regular IDEs but run on a cloud VM. A developer can have one for each project with the required dev tools installed.VMs also allow a developer to set up a machine for software testing that looks exactly like the production environment. Here, the opposite of the development VM is required; it should not have any development tools installed because they would also be missing from production.Cross-platform developmentA special case of the software development use case is cross-platform development. When you implement an app for Android or iOS, for example, you usually don’t do this on a mobile device but on your computer. With VMs, developers can simulate different hardware environments, enabling cross-platform testing without requiring physical devices.Legacy system supportIf the hardware your application requires is no longer in production, a VM might be the only way to keep running your software without reimplementing it. This is similar to the cross-platform development use case, as the VM emulates different hardware, but the difference is that the hardware no longer exists.How to choose the right VM providerTo find the right provider for your workload, the most important factor to assess is your own workload requirements. Ask the following questions and compare the answers to what providers offer.Is your workload compute or I/O-bound?Many workloads, like web servers, are I/O-bound. They don’t make complex calculations but rather simply load data and send it over the network. If you need a VM for an I/O-bound workload, you care more about disk and memory size, as well as network speed.However, compute-heavy workloads, such as AI inference or Kubernetes clusters, require careful resource allocation. If you’re evaluating whether to run Kubernetes on bare metal or VMs, check out our white paper on Bare Metal vs. VM-based Kubernetes Clusters for an in-depth comparison.If your workload is compute-bound instead, you need a high-performance CPU or a GPU and loads of memory. An AI inference engine, for example, only sends a bit of text to a client, but it does many calculations to generate this text.How long will your workload run?Web servers usually run indefinitely, but some workloads only run a few hours or minutes. If you’re doing AI training, you don’t want to pay for your huge VM cluster 24/7 if it only runs a few hours or days a week. In such cases, looking for a provider that allows renting your desired VM type hourly on a pay-as-you-go model might be worthwhile.Certain cloud providers offer cost-effective spot instances, which provide lower prices for non-critical workloads that can tolerate interruptions. These cheap VMs can get shut down at any time with minimal notice, but if your calculations aren’t time-critical, you might save quite a bit of money here.How does your workload scale?Scaling in the cloud is usually done horizontally. That is, by adding more VMs and distributing the work between them. Workloads can have different requirements for when and how fast they must be added and removed.In the AI training example, you might know in advance that one training takes more resources than the other, so you can provision enough VMs when starting. However, a web server workload might change its requirements constantly. Hence, you need a load balancer that automatically scales the instances up and down depending on the number of clients that want to access your service.Do you handle sensitive data?You might have to comply with specific laws and regulations depending on your jurisdiction(s) and industry. This means you must check whether the cloud provider also complies. How secure are their data centers? Where are they located? Do they support encryption in transit, at rest, and in process?What are your reliability requirements?Reliability is a question of costs and, again, of compliance. You might get into financial or regulatory troubles if your workload can’t run. Cloud providers often boast about their guaranteed uptimes, but remember that 99% uptime a year still means over three days of potential downtime. Check your needs and then seek a provider that can meet them reliably.Do you need customer support?If your organization doesn’t have the know-how for operating VMs in the cloud, you might need technical support from the provider. Most cloud providers are self-service, offering you a GUI and an API to manage resources. If your business lacks the resources to operate VMs, seek out a provider that can manage VMs on your behalf.SummaryVMs are a core technology for cloud computing and software development alike. They enable efficient resource sharing, improve security with hardware-enforced guest isolation, and simplify migration and disaster recovery. Choosing the right VM provider starts with understanding your workload requirements, from resource allocation to security and scalability.Maximize cloud efficiency with Gcore Virtual Machines—engineered for high performance, seamless scalability, and enterprise-grade security at competitive pricing. Whether you need to run workloads at scale or deploy applications in seconds, our VMs provide enterprise-grade security, built-in resilience, and optimized resource allocation, all powered by cutting-edge infrastructure. With global reach, fast provisioning, egress traffic included, and pay-as-you-go pricing, you get the scalability and reliability your business needs without overspending. Start your journey with Gcore VMs today and experience cloud computing that’s built for speed, security, and savings.Discover Gcore VMs
Why do bad actors carry out Minecraft DDoS attacks?
One of the most played video games in the world, Minecraft, relies on servers that are frequently a target of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. But why would malicious actors target Minecraft servers? In this article, we’ll look at why these servers are so prone to DDoS attacks and uncover the impact such attacks have on the gaming community and broader cybersecurity landscape. For a comprehensive analysis and expert tips, read our ultimate guide to preventing DDoS attacks on Minecraft servers.Disruption for financial gainFinancial exploitation is a typical motivator for DDoS attacks in Minecraft. Cybercriminals frequently demand ransom to stop their attacks. Server owners, especially those with lucrative private or public servers, may feel pressured to pay to restore normalcy. In some cases, bad actors intentionally disrupt competitors to draw players to their own servers, leveraging downtime for monetary advantage.Services that offer DDoS attacks for hire make these attacks more accessible and widespread. These malicious services target Minecraft servers because the game is so popular, making it an attractive and easy option for attackers.Player and server rivalriesRivalries within the Minecraft ecosystem often escalate to DDoS attacks, driven by competition among players, servers, hosts, and businesses. Players may target opponents during tournaments to disrupt their gaming experience, hoping to secure prize money for themselves. Similarly, players on one server may initiate attacks to draw members to their server and harm the reputation of other servers. Beyond individual players, server hosts also engage in DDoS attacks to disrupt and induce outages for their rivals, subsequently attempting to poach their customers. On a bigger scale, local pirate servers may target gaming service providers entering new markets to harm their brand and hold onto market share. These rivalries highlight the competitive and occasionally antagonistic character of the Minecraft community, where the stakes frequently surpass in-game achievements.Personal vendettas and retaliationPersonal conflicts can occasionally be the source of DDoS attacks in Minecraft. In these situations, servers are targeted in retribution by individual gamers or disgruntled former employees. These attacks are frequently the result of complaints about unsolved conflicts, bans, or disagreements over in-game behavior. Retaliation-driven DDoS events can cause significant disruption, although lower in scope than attacks with financial motivations.Displaying technical masterySome attackers carry out DDoS attacks to showcase their abilities. Minecraft is a perfect testing ground because of its large player base and community-driven server infrastructure. Successful strikes that demonstrate their skills enhance reputations within some underground communities. Instead of being a means to an end, the act itself becomes a badge of honor for those involved.HacktivismHacktivists—people who employ hacking as a form of protest—occasionally target Minecraft servers to further their political or social goals. These attacks are meant to raise awareness of a subject rather than be driven by personal grievances or material gain. To promote their message, they might, for instance, assault servers that are thought to support unfair policies or practices. This would be an example of digital activism. Even though they are less frequent, these instances highlight the various reasons why DDoS attacks occur.Data theftMinecraft servers often hold significant user data, including email addresses, usernames, and sometimes even payment information. Malicious actors sometimes launch DDoS attacks as a smokescreen to divert server administrators’ attention from their attempts to breach the server and steal confidential information. This dual-purpose approach disrupts gameplay and poses significant risks to user privacy and security, making data theft one of the more insidious motives behind such attacks.Securing the Minecraft ecosystemDDoS attacks against Minecraft are motivated by various factors, including personal grudges, data theft, and financial gain. Every attack reveals wider cybersecurity threats, interferes with gameplay, and damages community trust. Understanding these motivations can help server owners take informed steps to secure their servers, but often, investing in reliable DDoS protection is the simplest and most effective way to guarantee that Minecraft remains a safe and enjoyable experience for players worldwide. By addressing the root causes and improving server resilience, stakeholders can mitigate the impact of such attacks and protect the integrity of the game.Gcore offers robust, multi-layered security solutions designed to shield gaming communities from the ever-growing threat of DDoS attacks. Founded by gamers for gamers, Gcore understands the industry’s unique challenges. Our tools enable smooth gameplay and peace of mind for both server owners and players.Want an in-depth look at how to secure your Minecraft servers?Download our ultimate guide
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