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Systems & Data Center · Intermediate

Set Group ID (SGID)

A special permission that runs a file with its group's privileges, or makes new files in a directory inherit the directory's group.

Definition

On directories, SGID is widely used for shared team folders so all created files belong to the team group. It shows as s in the group execute position and is set with chmod g+s or a leading 2 in octal.

Example

chmod 2775 /srv/projects ensures new files there inherit the projects group.

Exam tip

For collaborative directories, SGID is the answer for group inheritance; the sticky bit is the answer for preventing deletion of others' files.

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