umask questions?

scabrous1 · 01-26-2006, 09:07 PM

using SLES 9,

if I change /etc/login.defs so that umask 002, but users had already been created while the value was umask 022, then are
the users home directories NOT group writeable? What utility do I use to change this? facls?

Also ... if I create an /etc/profile.local with the only command being umask 002, will this have the effect of causing all new files
created by users to be group writeable?

How do I confirm that this is working?

Scabby

frob23 · 01-26-2006, 10:04 PM

You can try:

Code:

cd /home
for file in *
do
chmod g+w $file
done

This will just change their home directories. If you want to change all their files use a "-R" as an option for the chmod command. Note, this can piss off users if they don't expect it. I would add a message about it to /etc/motd if it is a change in policy.

scabrous1 · 01-26-2006, 11:08 PM

thank you ... very helpful.

I believe that, from now on because I have created the /etc/profiles.local file, users newly created files will by default be group writeable ... am I correct in believing that?

Thnx again

scabby

frob23 · 01-27-2006, 02:21 PM

I wish I could correctly answer that for you... but I am not certain. I would test it to be sure. I have never seen the /etc/profiles.local before. I don't use bash myself except occasionally so I have never played with it too much.

I thought global information was in /etc/profile -- but have no idea if there is a .local version of that or what the difference would be.