Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Software and Control Panels : Changing Usernames

[sbrad]

I'm sure there's got to be a way to change a username, right? I'm moving accounts from one WHM to another server, and the account transfer feature tells me that, since a username starts with a number, I'm screwed. Anybody know how I can change the usernames on the old machine?

[kwimberl]

Modify an account. You can change domain or username there.

[sbrad]

No you can't.

[kunal]

you cant change a users username.. you would have to delete his/her account...

or you could goto the command line and manually add a new user.. move the files over to the new users account yadda yadda

[sbrad]

you cant change a users username.. you would have to delete his/her account...

Actually, not quite.
Travis from Powersurge told me how to do it. It took a few minutes, but was well worth it.

[kunal]

umm... how did ya do it??

[sbrad]

Here's his post from Cpanel Support:

change /etc/passwd & /etc/shadow entries, just jump to the line with the username with the number, and change the username to the new name.....

then copy their /var/cpanel/users file to the new form of the user (within that same directory).....

A few cgi-type items may fall apart which are cpanel related, if they had them configured, but that is to be expected when you completely change a username.

Reset permissions over their root directory when complete to make sure all is well (and recurrsively)
And then /scripts/updateuserdomains
and
/scripts/mailperm

Make sure that your /etc/proftpd.conf and /etc/proftpd/USERNAME or /etc/proftpd/passwd.vhosts files are correct (/scripts/ftpupdate).... and make sure your apache config has the correct paths in conjunction with the new username for the account.

[kunal]

duh

yeah, you would also have to change the users /home directory name to reflect his new username....

[sbrad]

Yeah, goes without saying. I think it was implied.
In any case, it wasn't too hard. Everything updated just like it should have.

[f5hosting.com]

Im probably gonna sound like an idiot here, but what exactly does /scripts/mailperm do?

[Jedito]

Originally posted by f5hosting
Im probably gonna sound like an idiot here, but what exactly does /scripts/mailperm do?

I'm not quite sure, but I think that fix permission problems in the /home/username/mail folder.

[f5hosting.com]

thanks, Jorge!

[Jedito]

No Problem

BTW, I just tested with an user with problems in his email, and yes, it fix permission problems

[f5hosting.com]

wouldnt know where I could get an autosetup script would ya? Email me if you do!

[Jedito]

Allen can you drop me an email to jorgec@downtownhost.com? I lost your email