problem with useradd: Cannot lock /etc/group ; try again lat

[zacinfinite]

i want to add a user
i just typed useradd xyz, and i got:-
useradd: cannot lock /etc/group; try again later.

what the heck?

[nemectic]

Sounds like the file is in use by something? Probably the simplest, but definitely not the most efficient method - it should work after a reboot.

Alternatively, check you don't have it open in any of your terminals/editors - Though I'm guessing if you have that file open by hand you SHOULD know this.

Code: Select all

ps -A

Check what's running at the moment, if there are any editors hanging, kill them. Anything outside of that, I'd be looking at security issues.

[zacinfinite]

Hey I got It!
linux creates a file called filename.lock
eg: /etc/group.lock
this file is created when u try to edit same file at the same time by different methods.

SIMPLY REMOVE THAT LOCK FILE and Problem solved