For this project, you create a new group in Linux (but these steps also work in nearly a...

For this project, you create a new group in Linux (but these steps also work in nearly all versions of UNIX, except AIX), change the group’s name, and finally delete that group. Before starting, ask your instructor for a GID (group ID number). For the group name, use the first and last initials of your name appended to test, such as jptest. You need access to the root account for this project.

To create, modify, and delete a group:

1. Access the command prompt, such as through a terminal window. Type su root and press Enter. Provide the root account password, if one is requested.

2. At the command prompt, type groupadd –g GID (where GID is the number provided by your instructor) groupname (your first and last initials + test), such as groupadd –g 800 jptest (see Figure 10-25), and press Enter. Note that if the GID is already in use, the system reports this information and does not create the group. If you omit the -g parameter, the system will use the next available GID. (Also, in some versions of UNIX/Linux, you will see a return code of zero that indicates you successfully added the group. If a return code is displayed that is other than zero, make sure that you correctly typed the command, used a unique GID and group name, and that you have proper access to create groups; or ask your instructor for help.)

3. Change the group name by using your first and middle initial appended to test, using 10 the command groupmod –n newname oldname, such as groupmod –n jjtest jptest, and press Enter. (Again, in some versions of UNIX/Linux, you will see a zero return code to indicate that you have successfully changed the group name.)

4. Type more /etc/group and press Enter to view the groups and verify that you successfully changed the group name. (You may need to press the spacebar several times to get to the end of the file, and press q to exit the listing.)

5. Delete the group by entering the groupdel command and the group name, such as groupdel jjtest, and press Enter.

6. Type more /etc/group and press Enter to verify that the group you created is truly deleted.

7. Close the terminal window.