NAME

chown − change owner

SYNOPSIS

chown [ −f −R ] owner[.group] file ... 

DESCRIPTION

Chown changes the owner of the files to owner. The owner may be either a decimal UID or a login name found in the password file. An optional group may also be specified. The group may be either a decimal GID or a group name found in the group-ID file.

Only the super-user can change owner, in order to simplify accounting procedures.  No errors are reported when the −f (force) option is given. 

When the −R option is given, chown recursively descends its directory arguments setting the specified owner.  When symbolic links are encountered, their ownership is changed, but they are not traversed. 

FILES

/etc/passwd

SEE ALSO

chgrp(1), chown(2), passwd(5), group(5)

4th Berkeley Distribution  —  Revision 1.3 of 12/06/90