groupadd(8)

1GROUPADD(8)               System Management Commands               GROUPADD(8)
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NAME

6       groupadd - create a new group
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SYNOPSIS

9       groupadd [options] group
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DESCRIPTION

12       The groupadd command creates a new group account using the values
13       specified on the command line plus the default values from the system.
14       The new group will be entered into the system files as needed.
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OPTIONS

17       The options which apply to the groupadd command are:
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19       -f, --force
20           This option causes the command to simply exit with success status
21           if the specified group already exists. When used with -g, and the
22           specified GID already exists, another (unique) GID is chosen (i.e.
23           -g is turned off).
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25       -g, --gid GID
26           The numerical value of the group´s ID. This value must be unique,
27           unless the -o option is used. The value must be non-negative. The
28           default is to use the smallest ID value greater than or equal to
29           GID_MIN and greater than every other group.
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31           See also the -r option and the GID_MAX description.
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33       -h, --help
34           Display help message and exit.
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36       -K, --key KEY=VALUE
37           Overrides /etc/login.defs defaults (GID_MIN, GID_MAX and others).
38           Multiple -K options can be specified.
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40           Example: -K GID_MIN=100 -K GID_MAX=499
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42           Note: -K GID_MIN=10,GID_MAX=499 doesn´t work yet.
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44       -o, --non-unique
45           This option permits to add a group with a non-unique GID.
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47       -p, --password PASSWORD
48           The encrypted password, as returned by crypt(3). The default is to
49           disable the password.
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52           Note: This option is not recommended because the password (or
53           encrypted password) will be visible by users listing the processes.
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55           You should make sure the password respects the system´s password
56           policy.
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58       -r, --system
59           Create a system group.
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61           The numeric identifiers of new system groups are chosen in the
62           SYS_GID_MIN-SYS_GID_MAX range, defined in login.defs, instead of
63           GID_MIN-GID_MAX.
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65       -R, --root CHROOT_DIR
66           Apply changes in the CHROOT_DIR directory and use the configuration
67           files from the CHROOT_DIR directory.
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CONFIGURATION

70       The following configuration variables in /etc/login.defs change the
71       behavior of this tool:
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73       GID_MAX (number), GID_MIN (number)
74           Range of group IDs used for the creation of regular groups by
75           useradd, groupadd, or newusers.
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77           The default value for GID_MIN (resp.  GID_MAX) is 500 (resp.
78           60000).
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80       MAX_MEMBERS_PER_GROUP (number)
81           Maximum members per group entry. When the maximum is reached, a new
82           group entry (line) is started in /etc/group (with the same name,
83           same password, and same GID).
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85           The default value is 0, meaning that there are no limits in the
86           number of members in a group.
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88           This feature (split group) permits to limit the length of lines in
89           the group file. This is useful to make sure that lines for NIS
90           groups are not larger than 1024 characters.
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92           If you need to enforce such limit, you can use 25.
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94           Note: split groups may not be supported by all tools (even in the
95           Shadow toolsuite). You should not use this variable unless you
96           really need it.
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98       SYS_GID_MAX (number), SYS_GID_MIN (number)
99           Range of group IDs used for the creation of system groups by
100           useradd, groupadd, or newusers.
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102           The default value for SYS_GID_MIN (resp.  SYS_GID_MAX) is 201
103           (resp.  GID_MIN-1).
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FILES

106       /etc/group
107           Group account information.
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109       /etc/gshadow
110           Secure group account information.
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112       /etc/login.defs
113           Shadow password suite configuration.
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CAVEATS

116       Groupnames may only be up to 32 characters long.
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118       You may not add a NIS or LDAP group. This must be performed on the
119       corresponding server.
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121       If the groupname already exists in an external group database such as
122       NIS or LDAP, groupadd will deny the group creation request.
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EXIT VALUES

125       The groupadd command exits with the following values:
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127       0
128           success
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130       2
131           invalid command syntax
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133       3
134           invalid argument to option
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136       4
137           GID not unique (when -o not used)
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139       9
140           group name not unique
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142       10
143           can´t update group file
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