Overview
groupadd is used to create new groups on a Linux system. Created groups are recorded in the `/etc/group` file and can be assigned to user accounts. When creating a group, you can explicitly specify the GID (Group ID) along with the group name, or let the system automatically assign one.
Key Features
- Create new user groups
- Specify a particular Group ID (GID)
- Create as a system group (assign low GID)
- Check and handle duplicate group names
Key Options
The groupadd command provides various options to configure group creation.
Group Settings
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Description:
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Usage Examples
Learn how to create groups through various examples of using the groupadd command.
Create a Basic Group
sudo groupadd developersIn its most basic form, this creates a new group named 'developers'. The GID is automatically assigned by the system.
Create a Group with a Specific GID
sudo groupadd -g 1005 salesThis creates a group named 'sales' with GID 1005. An error will occur if GID 1005 is already in use.
Create a System Group
sudo groupadd -r web_servicesThis creates a system group named 'web_services'. This group is typically assigned a GID from the lower range.
Verify Group Creation
getent group developersCheck the information of the created group. You can verify it directly in the `/etc/group` file or use the `getent group` command.
Tips & Precautions
Points to note and useful tips when using the groupadd command.
Permissions
The groupadd command modifies system settings, so it can only be executed by the root user or a user with sudo privileges.
- Always use it with `sudo` or run as the root user.
GID Range
The GID ranges for regular user groups and system groups may vary by distribution, but generally follow this pattern:
- **Regular User Groups**: 1000 and above (most Linux distributions)
- **System Groups**: 1-999 (for system services)
Group Names
Group names must be unique within the system, and it's advisable to follow certain conventions.
- Group names typically consist of lowercase English letters, numbers, hyphens (-), or underscores (_).
- Group names can be up to 32 characters long.
Related Commands
Other useful commands for group management:
- `groupdel`: Delete an existing group
- `groupmod`: Modify an existing group (change name, GID, etc.)
- `gpasswd`: Set group passwords and manage group members
- `useradd`: Specify a primary group or include in supplementary groups when creating a user