Creating first admin user in Jenkins - Visual Walkthrough

Process Flow - Creating first admin user

Start Jenkins

↓

Access Jenkins UI

↓

Go to Manage Jenkins

↓

Select Manage Users

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Click Create User

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Fill user details

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Assign Admin Role

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Save User

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User created with admin rights

This flow shows the step-by-step process to create the first admin user in Jenkins through its web interface.

Execution Sample

Jenkins

1. Open Jenkins UI in browser
2. Click 'Manage Jenkins'
3. Click 'Manage Users'
4. Click 'Create User'
5. Enter username, password, full name, email
6. Save user with admin rights

This sequence creates a new admin user in Jenkins via the web interface.

Process Table

Step	Action	Input/Selection	Result
1	Open Jenkins UI	http://localhost:8080	Jenkins dashboard loads
2	Click 'Manage Jenkins'	Manage Jenkins link	Manage Jenkins page opens
3	Click 'Manage Users'	Manage Users link	Users list page opens
4	Click 'Create User'	Create User button	User creation form opens
5	Fill user details	Username: admin Password: secret Full Name: Admin User Email: [e-mail]	Form filled
6	Assign admin role	Select admin privileges (default for first user)	User will have admin rights
7	Click 'Save'	Save button	User created and listed with admin rights
8	Verify user	Login with new admin user	Access granted with admin privileges

💡 User creation completes after saving and verifying admin access

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 5	After Step 7	Final
username	null	admin	admin	admin
password	null	secret	secret	secret
full_name	null	Admin User	Admin User	Admin User
email	null	[e-mail]	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
user_role	null	pending	admin	admin
user_list	empty	empty	contains admin user	contains admin user

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to assign the admin role explicitly?

Assigning the admin role ensures the user has full permissions. In the execution_table step 6, this step sets the user's privileges to admin.

What happens if we skip filling the password?

Without a password (step 5), the user cannot log in. The form will usually prevent saving until all required fields are filled.

How do we verify the user has admin rights?

In step 8, logging in with the new user and accessing admin features confirms the user has admin rights.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the result after clicking 'Create User'?

A Users list page opens

B User creation form opens

C Jenkins dashboard loads

D Manage Jenkins page opens

💡 Hint

Check execution_table row with Step 4 for the result of clicking 'Create User'

At which step is the user assigned admin privileges?

A Step 6

B Step 7

C Step 5

D Step 8

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Action' and 'Result' columns in execution_table for Step 6

If the password is missing at Step 5, what will likely happen?

A User gets admin rights anyway

B User is created without password

C Form prevents saving user

D User is created but cannot login

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about required fields and form validation at Step 5

Concept Snapshot

Creating first admin user in Jenkins:
1. Open Jenkins UI
2. Navigate Manage Jenkins > Manage Users
3. Click Create User
4. Fill username, password, full name, email
5. Assign admin role
6. Save user
7. Verify login with admin rights

Full Transcript

To create the first admin user in Jenkins, start by opening the Jenkins web interface. Navigate to 'Manage Jenkins' then 'Manage Users'. Click 'Create User' to open the user creation form. Fill in the username, password, full name, and email fields. Assign the admin role to give full permissions. Save the user. Finally, verify by logging in with the new admin user to confirm admin access.

Practice

1. Why is it important to create the first admin user in Jenkins?

easy

A. To speed up the build process

B. To secure the Jenkins server by controlling access

C. To reduce the server's memory usage

D. To automatically install plugins

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Jenkins security basics

   Jenkins requires an admin user to control who can access and manage the server.

2. Step 2: Recognize the role of the first admin user

   This user sets permissions and protects the server from unauthorized access.

3. Final Answer:

   To secure the Jenkins server by controlling access -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Security = Control access [OK]

Hint: First admin user controls access and security [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking admin user speeds up builds
• Confusing admin user with plugin installer
• Believing admin user reduces memory use

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create a new admin user using Jenkins Groovy script console?

easy

A. jenkins.createUser('admin', 'password')

B. Jenkins.instance.createUser('admin', 'password')

C. Jenkins.security.createAccount('admin', 'password')

D. jenkins.model.Jenkins.instance.securityRealm.createAccount('admin', 'password')

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Jenkins Groovy script for user creation

   The correct method to create a user is via the securityRealm's createAccount method.

2. Step 2: Match the exact syntax

   jenkins.model.Jenkins.instance.securityRealm.createAccount('admin', 'password') is the valid syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   jenkins.model.Jenkins.instance.securityRealm.createAccount('admin', 'password') -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   securityRealm.createAccount = correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use securityRealm.createAccount to add users [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using Jenkins.instance.createUser which does not exist
• Calling jenkins.createUser directly
• Using Jenkins.security.createAccount which is invalid

3. What will be the result of running this Groovy script in Jenkins script console?

def instance = jenkins.model.Jenkins.instance
instance.securityRealm.createAccount('admin', 'admin123')

medium

A. Creates a new admin user named 'admin' with password 'admin123'

B. Throws an error because createAccount is undefined

C. Deletes the existing admin user

D. Changes the Jenkins system password

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the script commands

   The script gets the Jenkins instance and calls createAccount on securityRealm with username and password.

2. Step 2: Understand createAccount effect

   This method creates a new user with the given credentials in Jenkins.

3. Final Answer:

   Creates a new admin user named 'admin' with password 'admin123' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   createAccount adds user = Creates a new admin user named 'admin' with password 'admin123' [OK]

Hint: createAccount adds user with given name and password [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming it deletes users
• Expecting a system password change
• Thinking createAccount is undefined

4. You tried to create the first admin user with this script:

jenkins.model.Jenkins.instance.securityRealm.createAccount('admin')

Why does it fail?

medium

A. Missing password argument in createAccount method

B. Incorrect method name, should be createUser

C. Jenkins instance is not accessible in script console

D. Username 'admin' is reserved and cannot be used

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method parameters

   createAccount requires two parameters: username and password.

2. Step 2: Identify missing argument

   The script only provides username, missing the password argument, causing failure.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing password argument in createAccount method -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Two arguments needed = Missing password argument in createAccount method [OK]

Hint: createAccount needs username and password [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong method name
• Assuming Jenkins instance is inaccessible
• Thinking 'admin' username is reserved

5. You want to automate creating the first admin user during Jenkins startup using an initialization Groovy script. Which approach is correct?

hard

A. Add the user credentials in config.xml directly

B. Run the createAccount command manually after Jenkins starts

C. Place a Groovy script with createAccount call in init.groovy.d directory

D. Modify Jenkins WAR file to include the user

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Jenkins initialization scripts

   Jenkins runs Groovy scripts placed in init.groovy.d folder during startup.

2. Step 2: Automate user creation

   Placing a script with createAccount call there creates the admin user automatically on startup.

3. Final Answer:

   Place a Groovy script with createAccount call in init.groovy.d directory -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   init.groovy.d scripts run at startup [OK]

Hint: Use init.groovy.d scripts for startup automation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying manual commands only
• Editing config.xml directly (not recommended)
• Modifying Jenkins WAR file (complex and unsafe)