Can't SSH/FTP into new user account in Ubuntu?

Question

Created new user from shell script using following command:

sudo useradd $1 -p $2 --home /var/www/$1

I'm not able to login to FTP or SSH as that user, do i need to add the user to some group for that?

Answer 1

Have you entered the password in encrypted form as returned by crypt like it is mentioned in the man page of useradd?

Answer 2

Also note the first sentence of the Description section of useradd(8):

useradd is a low level utility for adding users. On Debian, administrators should usually use adduser(8) instead.

It's likely that adduser(8) would have done whatever it is that needs doing.