Quick Beginnings for Linux**

Username, User ID, Group Name, and Instance Name Rules

Usernames or User IDs are the identifiers assigned to individual users. When naming users, groups, or instances, see General Naming Rules.

In addition to the general naming rules:

• User IDs on OS/2 can contain 1 to 8 characters. They cannot start with a numeric digit or end with $.
• Usernames on UNIX can contain 1 to 8 characters.
• Usernames on Windows can contain 1 to 30 characters. The Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems currently have a limit of 20 characters.
• Group and instance names can contain 1 to 8 characters.
• Names cannot be any of the following:
  • USERS
  • ADMINS
  • GUESTS
  • PUBLIC
  • LOCAL
• Names cannot begin with:
  • IBM
  • SQL
  • SYS
• Names cannot include accented characters.
• In general, when naming users, groups, or instances:

  OS/2

  Use uppercase names.

  UNIX

  Use lowercase names.

  Windows 32-bit operating systems

  Use any case.