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:
`groupadd` Executes the command.
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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
sudoor 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 groupgroupmod: Modify an existing group (change name, GID, etc.)gpasswd: Set group passwords and manage group membersuseradd: Specify a primary group or include in supplementary groups when creating a user