[X-Unix] Backdoor method to add users

[Stroller]

On Feb 23, 2004, at 4:02 pm, William H. Magill wrote:

> On 23 Feb, 2004, at 09:01, Mike Jezierski wrote:
>> We, being the cheapskates we are, intend to run OS X Client as a 
>> server OS. We don't see the point in spend loads of dosh on a 
>> "server" OS when you don't get any additional benefit other than a 
>> lighter checkbook. If Apple put a user limit in Mac OS X without 
>> telling us, I would consider that an Extremely Bad Move (R) ...
>
> You are confused. ... Stop and think about what you are trying to do.
>
> A Hummer and a VW beetle are both forms of transportation. You can 
> "mod" the Beetle by dropping a Porsche engine in it and sticking 
> snorkel manifolds on it so you can drive it across the same 4 foot 
> deep stream that you drive the Hummer across... However, the 
> experience and effort required is not quite the same.
> ....
> Similarly, you are buying what is CLEARLY marketed as a Single (or 
> Family) User system and attempting to pretend it is a general-purpose, 
> multi-user, time-sharing, Unix system.  Remember, that is YOUR 
> definition of OS X Client, not Apple's.

That's tosh.

Both client & server versions of OS X are exactly the same under the 
hood - a much better analogy is that they are both the same make & type 
of car, except that OS X server has the higher-end "trim" & "options" 
for more demanding drivers.

If OS X server is a general-purpose, multi-user, time-sharing, Unix 
system, then so is OS X client - as I understand it the only difference 
between the two is a few GUI admin goodies. I do agree that is a 
reasonable expectation that most workstation- and domestic-users would 
have no need to add more than 99 users, however to say on only that 
basis that OS X client isn't "a general-purpose, multi-user, 
time-sharing, Unix system" I find bizarre.

I personally don't feel that one "should have to pay extra for the GUI 
admin goodies - the cost of production of them must be relatively low 
for Apple, and it seems like a bit of a racket to charge much for them. 
But what I think "should" happen has nothing at all to do with 
economics, and Apple is allowed to bundle these tools any way they wish 
- I would have thought that with 99 users the cost / user of these 
goodies would be relatively low, and would have saved the OP's time & 
energy so far.

Since the OP is a self-confessed cheapskate after my own heart, I 
recommend he read 
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30760> and 
<http://www.osxfaq.com/FAQ/User_Admin_FAQ/index.ws>. If these utilities 
are unable to add a one-hundredth user, then it certainly IS a bug.

Stroller.