[buug] User/Group turbulence

[Bill Honeycutt]

Rick Moen wrote:
> Quoting Bill Honeycutt (wfhoney at pacbell.net):
> 
> 
>>I've somehow corrupted /etc/group file on a lowly fileserver....
> 
> 
> Well, maybe not.  (Note:  The above is your _diagnosis_, which isn't a
> useful thing to post.  If you were so good at diagnosis, would you be
> seeking help?  Fortunately, you posted the symptoms, too:)

I know you say that with the kindest of intentions, so your words are 
taken in the spirit that they're offered.  :-)

>>Compiling mysql, I untar the source from a bash shell as root.  I expect 
>>to see all the files owned by
>>
>>	root:root
>>
>>...but instead see
>>
>>	tom:dick

Interestingly, tom's UID is 503...which might explain the first 
contradiction.  I hadn't noticed that until I saw your results.

-------------- snip -------------------
> uncle-enzo:/tmp/mysql-4.0.10-gamma# ls -al | more
> total 1693
> drwxrwxrwx   34 503      users        1024 Jan 29 03:50
-------------- snip -------------------

> Unpacking the same file with user "rick" authority, I get:
> 
> /tmp/mysql-4.0.10-gamma $ ls -al | more
> total 1693
> drwxr-xr-x   34 rick     rick         1024 2003-01-29 03:50 .
> drwxrwxrwt    4 root     root         8192 2003-04-04 16:13 ..
> -rw-r--r--    1 rick     rick         6256 2003-01-29 03:29 acconfig.h
> -rw-r--r--    1 rick     rick        38584 2003-01-29 03:29 acinclude.m4
> -rw-r--r--    1 rick     rick       170496 2003-01-29 03:29 aclocal.m4
-------------- snip -------------------

Following suit, I used my own authority to untar and got the same 
results as you.

> 
> Suggestion:  _Don't_ use root authority when you don't need it.
> 

Yes, wise words indeed.