Linux User Management: Working with Secondary Groups

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Linux User Management: Working with Secondary Groups

Often, Linux users require membership to multiple groups to gain the access required on the system. In this lab exercise, we will create two new groups, and create three users with access to both groups. We will then create two directories and files within them to ensure all users have read/write access to both directories.

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Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Apr 07, 2025

Duration

30m

Challenge

Create the appadm Group with GID 30000 and the dba Group with GID 40000
```
# groupadd -g 30000 appadm
# groupadd -g 40000 dba
```
Challenge

Create Users user1, user2, and user3 with a Primary Group of appadm and a Secondary Group of dba
```
# useradd -g appadm -G dba user1
# useradd -g appadm -G dba user2
# useradd -g appadm -G dba user3
```
Challenge

Create the /app Directory and Give the appadm Group Read/Write Access, Then Create the /db Directory and Give the dba Group Read/Write Access
```
# mkdir /app
# chgrp app/adm /app
# chmod 760 /app
# mkdir /db
# chgrp dba /db
# chmod 760 /db
```
Challenge

Create the File /app/adm/app1.conf Containing the Comment “This file is reserved for application configuration.” and Grant the appadm Group Read/Write Permission to the File
```
# echo “This file is reserved for application configuration.” > /app/app1.conf
# chgrp appadm /app/app1.conf
# chmod 760 /app/app1.conf
```
Challenge

Create a File Named /db/db1.conf Containing the Comment, "This file is reserved for database configuration." Grant the dba Group Read/Write Access to the File
```
# echo "This file is reserved for database configuration." > /db/db1.conf
# chgrp dba /db/db1.conf
# chmod 760 /db/db1.conf
```

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