Different operations on Plesk for Linux server fail: /usr/sbin/usermod execution failed: usermod: user is currently used by process

Symptoms

• On a Plesk for Linux server, different operations like:

  • renaming the subscription's system user in Domains > example.com > Hosting & DNS > Web Hosting Access;
  • modifying settings of an additional FTP user in Domains > example.com > FTP Access;
  • renaming a domain;
  • restoring a Plesk backup;
  • deleting a web user;

  fail with the error like below which can be also found in the log file /var/log/plesk/panel.log:

  SysUser::update() failed: Unable to execute usermng: usermng: /usr/sbin/usermod execution failed: usermod: user johndoe is currently used by process 4758 usermng: Unable to modify user: johndoe

  ---

  Unable to execute usermng: usermng: /usr/sbin/userdel execution failed: userdel: user johndoe is currently used by process 4382 usermng: Unable to delete user: johndoe

  ---

  usermod: user johndoe is currently used by process 2367804
  usermng: Unable to modify user: johndoe

• PHP-FPM is set as a PHP handler in Domains > example.com > PHP Settings.

Cause

Resolution

Until the bug is fixed, use the workaround:

1. Log in to Plesk.

2. Go to Domains > example.com > PHP Settings and switch the PHP handler from FPM to CGI/FastCGI one.
   

   Note: If only FPM by nginx is present in Domains > example.com > PHP Settings, enable the option Proxy Mode in Domains > example.com > Apache and nginx Settings.

   

3. Perform the operation that was failing.

4. Set PHP-FPM handler back in Domains > example.com > PHP Settings

5. If the issue still persists, temporarily suspend the subscription and try again.