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MKHOMEDIR_HELPER

Section: Linux-PAM Manual (8)
Updated: 02/02/2026
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NAME

mkhomedir_helper - Helper binary that creates home directories

SYNOPSIS

mkhomedir_helper {user} [umask [ path-to-skel [ home_mode [ path-to-vendor-skel ] ] ]]

DESCRIPTION

mkhomedir_helper

is a helper program for the pam_mkhomedir module that creates home directories and populates them with contents of the specified skel directory.

The default value of umask is 0022 and the default value of path-to-skel is /etc/skel. The default value of home_mode is computed from the value of umask.

path-to-vendor-skel doesn't have default value. When set to a path, home directory will be populated by contents of path-to-skel first, and then by contents of path.

The helper is separated from the module to not require direct access from login SELinux domains to the contents of user home directories. The SELinux domain transition happens when the module is executing the mkhomedir_helper.

The helper never touches home directories if they already exist.

AUTHOR

Written by Tomas Mraz based on the code originally in pam_mkhomedir module.