Unix Command

[Rahim Makhani]

Can someone tell me the command to give execute permission to a directory and to all the sub-directories and files within that directory

Thanx
Rahim...

[RAC_1]

chmod -R 755 /dir
gives rwx ro owner and rx to group and others.

[Cheryl Griffin]

chmod is the command
http://docs.hp.com/en/B2355-90689/chmod.1.html

[Peter Godron]

Rahim,
see man chmod

Grant execute to all users (dangerous!)
chmod -R a+x

[Sivakumar TS]

Hi,

The chmod command with -R ( recursive ) applies the permission to all files and subdirectories too.

Regards,

Siva.

[Vipulinux]

Hello

do the following:

chmod -R 755 /yourdir

Cheers

[Raj D.]

Rahim,

Here it is :

# chmod -R ugo+x dirname


Cheers,
Raj.

[SUDHEER M S]

Do the following.

chmod -R 755 /
Changes all Directories, Sub-Dir and Files to RWX for Owner, r_x for Group and r_x for others.
Note:- Hope you realize seriousness of 755 -R.

This will not apply for the Newly created files and folder. (your umask will matter there).

Cheers
MS

[Bill Hassell]

Actually, all of the answers are slightly incorrect. chmod -R wil change EVERYTHING in every directory which you defeinitely do NOT want to do. Directories must be executable to be searched, but data files should not be excutable to avoid problems. The correct command would be:

find /specific_directory -type d -print -exec chmod a+x {} \;

The find command locates only the specific_directory and all sub-directories, but ignores any files.

NOTE: chmod -R is an extremely dangerous command as it can make unwanted changes to all directories and files in a directory tree. Be very cautious about using the -R option. Also make note that an absolute numeric value (such as 755 or 666 or 7777) will destroy sticky bits and set UID and GID bits, rendering certain programs inoperable. Adding +x to a bunch of directories is genrally safe as it allows all users to search through (execute) the directory. Adding +w to all users for a set of directories in inherently unsafe as it allows all users to delete or rename the files (and directories) in the directory.