Linux filesystem permissions

megamaced

megamaced

Geek Geek Geek!
Hello HWF, been awhile! :D

I have a folder called Music in my home folder that I want to make accessable to other users of my computer. What permissions do I need to assign to that folder?

I've tried
Code: 
chmod 744 -R ~/Music
but that did not seem to give access for the other users, even when the full path was given.

I've also tried adding all accounts to a new group called "Music" and assigning that group to the Music folder, but that didn't seem to work either. In the process I also screwed up my own login permissions but that's another story and a re-installation of Ubuntu later!

Any takers?

Tar
 
The directory "Music" is inside your home directory, correct? Most likely other users don't have the privileges necessary to descend into your home dir, so it doesn't matter that they have access to that directory. Also, a directory needs to have "execute" privileges for one to descend into it. So you would have needed to give it '755' privs anyway. :)

Normally, I wouldn't think you'd want to let other users in your home directory at all. I'd recommend something like the following scenario:
  1. Create a system group called "music"
  2. Add yourself to this new group, as well as any users you want to have access to this shared directory.
  3. Make a new directory, preferably someplace with lots of free space. For instance: mkdir /home/music
  4. Change the ownership of the directory so that a) you are the primary owner, and b) the music group has group ownership: chown -R megamaced:music /home/music
  5. If you want only those belonging to the 'music' group to be able to access your shared tunes, you'd do this: chmod -R 750 /home/music
 
Would it be possible to link the Music folder in my home folder as follows:

Add all users to Music group then:

Code: 
ln -s ~/Music /home/
chmod 750 /home/music

Or failing that, if I give executable permissions on the Music folder in my home folder, when another user traverses my home folder will they be able to see the other folders and files stored in my home root (even if they can't actually open them?)

cheers man
 
You will still run into the same problems. Namely, you'd have to let users traipse around in your home directory. It'd be better to do exactly what I've suggested above, then move all of your music onto the new music directory. Afterwords, simply symlink the music directory back into your own home, like so:
Code: 
ln -s /home/music ~/Music

That way, any applications which are indexing your music (e.g. Amarok) will still see the music via the same path, /home/magemaced/Music, even though the actual path would be /home/music ...cool?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top