USERLIST(5)

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💖 USERLIST(5) 💖

the iconic AFS file reference, bestie edition

okay so we're talking about UserList from the AFS File Reference section of the manual (section 5, files) — welcome to the group chat, pull up a chair 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

UserList — literally just defines privileged administrators 👑

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

okay so picture this: the UserList file is the guest list for the coolest club in your cell. It lists the AFS usernames of the system administrators who are authorized to issue privileged bos, vos, and backup commands — the ones that affect the local server machine or the volumes housed on it. no invite, no entry, periodt 💅

and where does this iconic little file live? It must reside in the /etc/openafs/server directory on every server machine. every single one. no exceptions, no shortcuts 🎀

⚠️ now listen up because this part matters: even though the UserList file is in ASCII format, do NOT use a text editor to alter it. not even a little. not even "just this once." Instead, always use the appropriate commands from the bos command suite:
  • The bos adduser command to add a user to the file. ➕
  • The bos listusers command to display the contents of the file. 👀
  • The bos removeuser command to remove a user from the file. ➖

okay so theoretically 👀 — theoretically — it is possible to list different administrators in the UserList files on different server machines. And like, technically nothing is stopping you. But bestie. It can cause unanticipated authorization failures, and it is not recommended. don't do it. it's giving chaos. 💀

here's the vibe for cells that use the Update Server to distribute the contents of the /etc/openafs/server directory: it is customary to edit only the copy of the file stored on the system control machine. one file, one edit, slay 🦋

otherwise? if you're not in that situation, you edit the file on each server machine individually. yes, all of them. I know. it's a lot. you got this 🫶

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

go read those, iykyk 📚✨

IBM Corporation 2000. <http://www.ibm.com/> All Rights Reserved.

This documentation is covered by the IBM Public License Version 1.0. It was converted from HTML to POD by software written by Chas Williams and Russ Allbery, based on work by Alf Wachsmann and Elizabeth Cassell. iconic work honestly, thanks legends 🎀

and that's the whole page, bestie 💖 this one came to you from OpenAFS, dated 2026-07-27 — take care of your server machines and your guest list, mwah 💅✨

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