group(5yp) group(5yp)
Name
group - group file in a Yellow Pages environment
Description
For each group, the file contains:
Group name
Encrypted password
Numerical group ID
Comma-separated list of all users allowed in the group
This is an ASCII file. The fields are separated by colons. Each group is separated from the next by a new-line. If the password field is
null, no password is needed.
This file resides in the directory. Because of the encrypted passwords, it can and does have general read permission and can be used, for
example, to map numerical group ID's to names.
A group file can have a line beginning with a plus (+), which means to incorporate entries from the Yellow Pages. There are two styles of
+ entries: All by itself, + means to insert the entire contents of the Yellow Pages group file at that point; +name means to insert the
entry (if any) for name from the Yellow Pages at that point. If a + entry has a password or group member field that is not null, the con-
tents of that field will override what is contained in the Yellow Pages. The numerical group ID field cannot be overridden.
Examples
+myproject:::bill, steve
+:
If these entries appear at the end of a group file, then the group myproject will have members bill and steve, and the password and group
ID of the Yellow Pages entry for the group myproject. All the groups listed in the Yellow Pages will be pulled in and placed after the
entry for myproject.
Restrictions
The command will not change group passwords.
Files
ULTRIX file system group file
Yellow Pages group map
See Also
yppasswd(1yp), setgroups(2), crypt(3), initgroups(3x), passwd(5yp)
group(5yp)