Owner of tty files

[Michael Duran]

While cleaning up users, I found that a user owned 8 tty files, 1 ttypx, 3 ttyqx and 1 pty/ttypx, and 3 pty/ttyqx. When I looked at the other files they were root:root, root:tty, and bin:tty.

Who should the ower be for these files?

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Well, it depends on when you look. When a user logs in at is attached to a port the ownership changes so that he is able to read and write from the port.

[Michael Duran]

So if I want to reassign the ownership, due to removing this user, what user:group should I default to?

[A. Clay Stephenson]

No, no. Typically these start off as owned by root with group sys. If you have modems attached or serial printers these might be owned by uucp or lp. Again, it depends upon wheb you look. Normally a tty port or a pts port starts off owned by root/sys. The user actually essentially has root priviliges very briefly but by the time login has finished the user owns the port. These ownerships change all the time and it is quite normal.

To get a better idea of the process man login and telnetd for details.

Regards, Clay