Users

qbee.io provides full user management for embedded Linux systems in the "Configuration management section" under "users". Users can be automatically added or removed through the state-based configuration engine, either fleet-wide or at a more granular level. Creating a user also creates a user directory, while deleting a user deletes the directory.

The password for users can be set in the security tab under "passwords". With qbee's state-based configuration system, new devices inserted later into the system will automatically receive the respective device configuration for that group, including any added or deleted users.

Pre-defined test or support users with standard passwords are often present in standard embedded Linux gateways, which poses a significant security risk. qbee can securely delete these users on newly inserted devices to prevent this threat.

New user and new password

Note that when adding a new user and assigning a password during the same commit, it takes two runs of the qbee agent to converge and set the password. Also, if a user is deleted, their home directory will also be deleted without warning, so standard users like "pi" for a Raspberry Pi should be added if user management is enabled.