CHOWN(8)                                                              CHOWN(8)



NAME
       chown - change owner

SYNOPSIS
       /etc/chown [ -f -R ] owner[.group] file ...

DESCRIPTION
       _C_h_o_w_n changes the owner of the _f_i_l_e_s to _o_w_n_e_r.  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, _c_h_o_w_n recursively descends  its  directory
       arguments setting the specified owner.  When symbolic links are encoun‐
       tered, 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        May 22, 1986                         CHOWN(8)