Hello! I would like to know if there is a command that will list groups. The reason I would like to do this is so that ordinary users will have access to hardware such as modem and storage devices. By default, my system (Vector Linux 4.3 - which makes my tired old 'puter gallop like a mustang) seems to only allow root access to these things.

Will it work if I create groups named "cdrom, modem, usb" and give members of those groups access to the devices, then add the privileged users to the groups?
Does that sound about right? Can anybody suggest another way to do it.

But first I'd like to peek under the hood of my system and see what groups are already there. Ideally, there's already a cdrom group with root as its only member, but I ain't bettin' the farm on it.

I know how to create groups, change permissions and all that. Stupid as it may sound, I do not know how to list the groups. I'd like to know how to do that.

Thanks in advance!

[edit-add]
(I've already googled this to death, and I still haven't found a convenient way to list groups.)

Your plan sounds like the way to go, that's actually how I do it on my system.

The available groups on your system are stored in the file '/etc/group' (at least they are on my Debian system. So you can list the groups by using the command 'cat /etc/group'

Good luck.

...and as " root " you're free to edit that file to your wishes.

egag

I'll give her a try and let you know how it pans out. Thanks.

couldn't he also add the option of user to the entries in fstab to allow normal users to use the devices as well?

Putting the 'user' option in fstab doesn't say that normal users can use the device, it only specifies that normal users can mount the device.

Smooth as silk and easy as ~3.14 -- thanks!

cat is extremely useful. It's essential to any blooming administrator's arsenal.

I LOVE LINUX!!!!