Introduction
User accounts are the core of any Windows Server deployment. They provide the means for users to log on to the server, access resources, and perform tasks. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to create and manage user accounts in Windows Server 2022. We’ll also explore some of the best practices for managing user accounts.
Creating User Accounts
There are several ways to create user accounts in Windows Server 2022. The most common methods are through the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, the New User Wizard, and the Net User command-line tool. We’ll take a look at each of these methods in turn.
Active Directory Users and Computers
The Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in is the primary tool for managing user accounts in Active Directory. To open the snap-in, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
Once the snap-in is open, you can create a new user account by right-clicking on the Users container and selecting New > User from the context menu. This will launch the New User Wizard. Simply enter the required information and click Finish to create the account.
New User Wizard
The New User Wizard can also be accessed from the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To launch the wizard, right-click on the Users container and select New > User from the context menu. Alternatively, you can click the New User button in the toolbar.
Enter the required information and click Finish to create the account.
Net User
The Net User command-line tool can be used to create, modify, and delete user accounts. To create a new user account, use the following syntax:
net user <username> <password> /add
Replace <username> and <password> with the appropriate values. The /add switch tells the Net User command to add a new user account.
Modifying User Accounts
Once a user account has been created, you may need to modify the account settings. The most common settings that are modified are the account password, account expiration date, and account lockout settings. These settings can be modified using the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, the Net User command-line tool, or the Local Security Policy snap-in.
Active Directory Users and Computers
The Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in is the primary tool for managing user accounts in Active Directory. To open the snap-in, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
Once the snap-in is open, you can modify the account settings by right-clicking on the user account and selecting Properties from the context menu. This will open the Properties dialog box for the selected user account. Make the desired changes and click OK to save the changes.
Net User
The Net User command-line tool can be used to modify user accounts. To modify an existing user account, use the following syntax:
net user <username> <password> /edit
Replace <username> and <password> with the appropriate values. The /edit switch tells the Net User command to edit the specified user account.
Local Security Policy
The Local Security Policy snap-in can be used to modify the account lockout settings. To open the snap-in, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Local Security Policy.
In the Local Security Policy snap-in, expand the Account Lockout Policy node. This will display the account lockout settings. Make the desired changes and click OK to save the changes.
Deleting User Accounts
There are several ways to delete user accounts in Windows Server 2022. The most common methods are through the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, the Net User command-line tool, and the Local Users and Groups snap-in. We’ll take a look at each of these methods in turn.
Active Directory Users and Computers
The Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in is the primary tool for managing user accounts in Active Directory. To open the snap-in, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
Once the snap-in is open, you can delete a user account by right-clicking on the account and selecting Delete from the context menu. This will launch the Delete User Wizard. Simply follow the prompts to delete the account.
Net User
The Net User command-line tool can be used to delete user accounts. To delete an existing user account, use the following syntax:
net user <username> /delete
Replace <username> with the appropriate value. The /delete switch tells the Net User command to delete the specified user account.
Local Users and Groups
The Local Users and Groups snap-in can be used to delete user accounts. To open the snap-in, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Local Users and Groups.
In the Local Users and Groups snap-in, expand the Users node. This will display the list of user accounts. Right-click on the account that you want to delete and select Delete from the context menu. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
Conclusion
User accounts are the core of any Windows Server deployment. In this article, we’ve taken a look at how to create and manage user accounts in Windows Server 2022. We’ve also explored some of the best practices for managing user accounts.
Before you can add user accounts in Windows Server 2022, you need to create at least one organizational unit (OU). You can use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in to create an OU.
To create an OU:
1. In the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, right-click the domain, and then click New > Organizational Unit.
2. In the New Object – Organizational Unit dialog box, type a name for the OU, and then click OK.
After you create an OU, you can move user accounts into it. You can also delegate the administration of the OU to another user or group.
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