From: Jim Meyering <jim@meyering.net>
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 08:15:11 +0000 (+0000)
Subject: (chown invocation): Warn that chown
X-Git-Tag: v5.0.1~41
X-Git-Url: http://git.ipfire.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=commitdiff_plain;h=fad1b46e08d16135bde8bd6f963aa548b92a5fe3;p=thirdparty%2Fcoreutils.git

(chown invocation): Warn that chown
now clears set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits on some systems.
---

diff --git a/doc/coreutils.texi b/doc/coreutils.texi
index eef61a7d2d..407adf3bd5 100644
--- a/doc/coreutils.texi
+++ b/doc/coreutils.texi
@@ -7522,6 +7522,18 @@ but you may be able to work around the compatibility problems by setting
 New scripts should avoid the use of @samp{.} because @sc{gnu} @command{chown}
 may fail if @var{owner} contains @samp{.} characters.
 
+Warning: The @command{chown} command may clear the set-user-ID or
+set-group-ID bits on some systems.  The @command{chown} command is
+dependent upon the policy and functionality of the underlying system
+which may make system-dependent file mode modifications outside the
+control of the @command{chown} command.  On some systems (e.g., Linux)
+the @command{chown} command clears the set-UID and set-GID bits because
+the underlying system @function{chown} function clears them.  On other
+systems (e.g., HP-UX and Solaris) the @command{chown} command does not
+affect those bits when operated as the superuser.  On systems which allow
+non-privileged use of chown those bits are always cleared by the system.
+When in doubt, check the underlying system behavior.
+
 The program accepts the following options.  Also see @ref{Common options}.
 
 @table @samp