Installation guide

To add a new group, add a line entry to the group file:
1. Log in as root and change to the /etc directory.
2. Use the cp command to copy the group file to a temporary file. For
example, enter:
# cp group group.sav
3. Open the group file and add the required line entry. Be sure to include
all four fields in this entry. A file is displayed similar to the following,
which shows that users diaz, kalle, marcy, and chris belong to the
users group that has a GID of 15:
system:*:0:root,diaz,kalle,marcy
daemon:*:1:daemon
uucp:*:2:uucp
.
.
.
users:*:15:diaz,kalle,marcy,chris
4. Close the file.
5. Use the vipw command to edit the passwd file to include the GID in
the
group_id field of each user who is a member of the group. Refer
to Section 9.2.1.1 for more information about the passwd file.
If at a later date you change the group a user belongs to, be sure to change
the parent directory’s GID also.
9.5.3 Removing a Group
To remove a group that no longer has any members, delete the
corresponding line from the group file as follows:
1. Log in as root and edit the passwd file line entry for each member of
the group by using the vipw command. You can either assign a
different group number or delete the current group number. If you
assign a different group number, make sure that it corresponds to a
current (or new) group entry in the group file. Refer to Section 9.2.1.1
for information on editing the passwd file.
2. Remove the original group line entry from the group file. To delete a
group file entry:
a. Log in as root and move to the /etc directory.
b. Use the cp command to copy the group file to a temporary file.
# cp group group.sav
c. Open the group file and delete the appropriate group line entry.
d. Close the file.
9–22 Administering User Accounts and Groups