Question 408 of 750

Linux Commands and File Permissions →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Change Group Ownership Recursively in Linux

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of linux commands and file permissions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A system administrator needs to change the group ownership of a directory /srv/data and all its contents to 'datagroup'. Which command will accomplish this recursively?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

A
chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data
chgrp with -R recursively changes the group ownership of the directory and all its contents.
B
chown datagroup: /srv/data
Why wrong: This changes the group of only the top-level directory, not its contents.
C
chmod -R g+rw /srv/data
Why wrong: This changes permissions, not group ownership.
D
groupmod -R datagroup /srv/data
Why wrong: groupmod modifies group properties, not file ownership.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The correct command is chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data, which uses the -R flag to apply the group ownership change recursively to the directory and all its contents. This works because the chgrp command is specifically designed to change group ownership, and the -R (recursive) option ensures every file and subdirectory within /srv/data inherits the new group. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of Linux file permissions and ownership management, often appearing as a scenario where an administrator must grant a group access to a shared directory. A common trap is confusing chgrp with chown; while chown -R :datagroup /srv/data also works, the exam expects chgrp as the direct tool for group-only changes. Remember the mnemonic: “chgrp -R gets the group from afar,” reinforcing that the -R flag reaches into every subfolder.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data

The correct command is `chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data`. The `-R` (or `--recursive`) flag tells `chgrp` to operate on the directory and all its contents, changing the group ownership to 'datagroup'. This directly fulfills the requirement to change group ownership recursively.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data
Why this is correct
chgrp with -R recursively changes the group ownership of the directory and all its contents.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
chown datagroup: /srv/data
Why it's wrong here
This changes the group of only the top-level directory, not its contents.
✗
chmod -R g+rw /srv/data
Why it's wrong here
This changes permissions, not group ownership.
✗
groupmod -R datagroup /srv/data
Why it's wrong here
groupmod modifies group properties, not file ownership.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse `chgrp` with `chown` or `chmod`, mistakenly thinking that `chown datagroup:` or `chmod -R g+rw` will change group ownership, when in fact they change user ownership or permissions, respectively.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The `chgrp` command directly modifies the group ownership metadata stored in the inode of each file or directory. When used recursively with `-R`, it traverses the directory tree using a depth-first approach, updating the group ID (GID) for every entry. This is a common task in multi-user environments where shared directories must be accessible by a specific group, such as a 'datagroup' for collaborative projects.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Linux Commands and File Permissions — This question tests Linux Commands and File Permissions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data — The correct command is `chgrp -R datagroup /srv/data`. The `-R` (or `--recursive`) flag tells `chgrp` to operate on the directory and all its contents, changing the group ownership to 'datagroup'. This directly fulfills the requirement to change group ownership recursively.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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