- A
setfacl -m g:developers:rwx /project/data && chmod 2775 /project/data
Why wrong: ACL grants access but without SGID, new files will inherit the creating user's primary group, not developers.
- B
chown root:developers /project/data && chmod u+s /project/data
Why wrong: chmod u+s sets setuid bit (user), not SGID; new files will inherit the owner's primary group, not developers group.
- C
chmod g+s /project/data && chown root:developers /project/data
Why wrong: Order matters: chmod g+s first on a directory owned by root:root will set SGID, but then chown changes group to developers but may clear SGID on some systems; also new files still inherit primary group without proper group ownership set first.
- D
chown :developers /project/data && chmod g+s /project/data
chown :developers sets the group to developers; chmod g+s sets the SGID bit so new files inherit the group.
LFCS User and Group Management Practice Question
This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of user and group management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 ensure that all users in the 'developers' group have read and write access to a shared project directory /project/data, but new files created in that directory should belong to the 'developers' group automatically. Which command sequence achieves this goal?
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.
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
chown :developers /project/data && chmod g+s /project/data
Option D is correct because `chown :developers /project/data` changes the group ownership of the directory to 'developers', and `chmod g+s /project/data` sets the setgid bit on the directory. The setgid bit ensures that new files created inside inherit the directory's group ('developers') instead of the creator's primary group, and the group ownership gives all members of 'developers' read and write access based on the directory's permissions (e.g., 775).
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.
- ✗
setfacl -m g:developers:rwx /project/data && chmod 2775 /project/data
Why it's wrong here
ACL grants access but without SGID, new files will inherit the creating user's primary group, not developers.
- ✗
chown root:developers /project/data && chmod u+s /project/data
Why it's wrong here
chmod u+s sets setuid bit (user), not SGID; new files will inherit the owner's primary group, not developers group.
- ✗
chmod g+s /project/data && chown root:developers /project/data
Why it's wrong here
Order matters: chmod g+s first on a directory owned by root:root will set SGID, but then chown changes group to developers but may clear SGID on some systems; also new files still inherit primary group without proper group ownership set first.
- ✓
chown :developers /project/data && chmod g+s /project/data
Why this is correct
chown :developers sets the group to developers; chmod g+s sets the SGID bit so new files inherit the group.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the setuid bit (u+s) with the setgid bit (g+s), or they forget that group ownership must be explicitly set to 'developers' for inheritance to work, leading them to choose options that set the wrong sticky bit or omit the group change.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The setgid bit (mode 2xxx) on a directory causes newly created files and subdirectories to inherit the directory's group ID, overriding the user's primary group. This is defined in POSIX and is critical for collaborative environments like shared project directories. Without the setgid bit, new files would be owned by the creator's primary group, potentially excluding other 'developers' group members from write access. The `chown :developers` command changes only the group, leaving the user owner unchanged (typically root), which is standard for shared directories.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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.
- →
User and Group Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LFCS question test?
User and Group Management — This question tests User and Group Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: chown :developers /project/data && chmod g+s /project/data — Option D is correct because `chown :developers /project/data` changes the group ownership of the directory to 'developers', and `chmod g+s /project/data` sets the setgid bit on the directory. The setgid bit ensures that new files created inside inherit the directory's group ('developers') instead of the creator's primary group, and the group ownership gives all members of 'developers' read and write access based on the directory's permissions (e.g., 775).
What should I do if I get this LFCS 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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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