GPASSWD(1)			 User Commands			    GPASSWD(1)



NAME
       gpasswd - administer the /etc/group file

SYNOPSIS
       gpasswd [option] group

DESCRIPTION
       The gpasswd command is used to administer the /etc/group file (and
       /etc/gshadow file if compiled with SHADOWGRP defined). Every group can
       have administrators, members and a password. System administrator can
       use the -A option to define group administrator(s) and the -M option to
       define members and has all rights of group administrators and members.


       gpasswd called by a group administrator with a group name only prompts
       for the group password. If a password is set the members can still
       newgrp(1) without a password, and non-members must supply the password.

   Notes about group passwords
       Group passwords are an inherent security problem since more than one
       person is permitted to know the password. However, groups are a useful
       tool for permitting co-operation between different users.

OPTIONS
       Except for the -A and -M options, the options cannot be combined. The
       options which apply to the gpasswd command are:

       -a user
	   Add the user to the named group.

       -d user
	   Remove the user from the named group.

       -r
	   Remove the password from the named group. Only group members will
	   be allowed to use newgrp to join the named group.

       -R
	   Restrict the access to the named group. Only group members will be
	   allowed to use newgrp to join the named group.

       -A user,...
	   Set the list of administrative users.

       -M user,...
	   Set the list of group members.

FILES
       /etc/group
	   Group account information.

       /etc/gshadow
	   Secure group account information.

SEE ALSO
       newgrp(1), gshadow(5), groupadd(8), groupdel(8), groupmod(8), grpck(8),
       group(5).



User Commands			  10/28/2007			    GPASSWD(1)