FreeBSD® Unleashed

Introduction to Users and Groups

The users and permissions model that FreeBSD (and most UNIXes) use is a fairly simple and single-layer one. There are only two types of users: regular users, and the “super-user,” or “root.” Regular users are subject to user permissions that restrict what they can do; only the super-user is free of these restrictions. Other permissions models (such as that of Windows NT/2000) involve more complex layering, which is intended to facilitate certain system functions such as authentication services and system-level processes. The simpler mode that we will deal with means that we'll have to do a few more gymnastics when it comes to tasks such as setting up a Web server with proper permissions (covered in Chapter 26 ...