/usr/sbin/userdel execution failed is shown while removing additional FTP account

Symptoms

• Unable to remove additional FTP account/Web User from Plesk when there are php-fpm processes running on behalf of the system users of the subscription, the following error appears in Plesk:

  PLESK_ERROR: Unable to execute usermng: usermng: /usr/sbin/userdel execution failed:
  userdel: user addftpuser is currently used by process 5022
  usermng: Unable to delete user:

• PHP as FPM application is selected in Home > Domains > example.com > PHP Settings.

Cause

This is Plesk bug with ID #PPPM-4225 that was fixed in Plesk Onyx.

Resolution

Upgrade to the latest Plesk version .

If upgrade is not possible:

1. Log into Plesk.
2. Go to Home > Domains > example.com > PHP Settings and switch PHP handler to one with CGI/FastCGI support.
3. Go to Home > Domains > example.com > FTP Access/Web Users and remove the account.
4. Set back PHP handler in Home > Domains > example.com > PHP Settings.

If steps above did not help remove this account directly from the server with below steps:

1. Connect to the server via SSH.

2. Backup Plesk database.

3. Delete this account from Plesk database (replace addftpuser with the user login that should be removed):

   # MYSQL_PWD=`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` mysql -Dpsa -e "select account_id from sys_users where login='addftpuser'"
   +------------+
   | account_id |
   +------------+
   | 11 |
   +------------+

   # MYSQL_PWD=`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` mysql -Dpsa -e "delete from accounts where id=11"
   # MYSQL_PWD=`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` mysql -Dpsa -e "delete from sys_users where login='addftpuser'"

4. Remove the user from the system:

   # /usr/sbin/userdel addftpuser