👤 Create user with an expiry date
Command syntax
bash
sudo useradd -e YYYY-MM-DD username-e sets the account expiration date.
Date format must be YYYY-MM-DD.
Example (100 days access)
If today is 2026-03-03, 100 days ahead is 2026-06-11:
bash
sudo useradd -e 2026-06-11 devopsuserThis means:
User devopsuser can access until June 11, 2026.
After that date, login is automatically disabled.
🔍 Check account expiry information
bash
sudo chage -l devopsuserExample output:
plain text
Account expires : Jun 11, 2026
Password expires : never🔐 Optional: set a password for the user
bash
sudo passwd devopsuser🚫 What happens after expiry?
User cannot log in.
SSH access is blocked.
Account remains in the system but is disabled.
🎯 Best practices
Always define an expiry for temporary accounts.
Remove the user completely after training:
bash
sudo userdel -r devopsuserFollow the least privilege principle.
Track temporary accounts properly.