NAME

chroot − execute a command with a new root directory

SYNOPSIS

chroot root command

DESCRIPTION

The chroot command changes its root directory to the given directory, changes its current directory to this directory (the new root directory) then executes the command.  The command consists of the remainder of the command line arguments. 

The command name must be the full path name of the command relative to the new root directory. 

For the change in root directory to succeed the command must be executed with superuser priveleges. 

SEE ALSO

chroot(8), chroot(2), chdir(2)

NOTES

The executed command cannot name any files below the new root.  The command is usually used with a specially prepared directory tree to provide a restricted environment for users or systems which cannot be authenticated using the normal password system.  See the description of anonymous ftp in ftpd(8).

The BSD version of the command described in chroot(8) and located in /sbin sets the effective user and group ids of the new command to the real user and group ids.  This implementation of chroot does not do this.  Using the wrong command can create a security loophole. 

System V