samba-tool group

The samba-tool group command is a versatile utility within the Samba suite used to manage groups in a Samba Active Directory domain. It allows administrators to create, modify, delete, and query group information, making it an essential tool for managing group-based permissions and access control in mixed Windows/Unix environments.

Overview

samba-tool group helps administrators:

• Create and Delete Groups: Add new groups to the domain or remove obsolete ones.

• Modify Group Attributes: Change group properties such as descriptions or membership.

• List and Query Groups: Retrieve information on groups, including listing all groups or showing details for a specific group.

• Manage Group Memberships: Add or remove members from a group.

Common Subcommands

Below are some of the most frequently used subcommands with examples.

1. add

• Purpose: Create a new group in the domain.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group add <GroupName>

• Example:

  samba-tool group add Marketing

  This command creates a new group called "Marketing".

2. delete

• Purpose: Delete an existing group from the domain.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group delete <GroupName>

• Example:

  samba-tool group delete OldGroup

  This removes the group "OldGroup" from the domain.

3. list

• Purpose: List all groups in the domain.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group list

• Example:

  samba-tool group list

  This command outputs a list of all groups defined in the domain.

4. show

• Purpose: Display detailed information about a specific group.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group show <GroupName>

• Example:

  samba-tool group show Marketing

  This displays detailed attributes of the "Marketing" group, such as its SID and description.

5. addmembers

• Purpose: Add one or more members to a group.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group addmembers <GroupName> <User1> [<User2> ...]

• Example:

  samba-tool group addmembers Marketing alice bob charlie

  This command adds the users "alice", "bob", and "charlie" to the "Marketing" group.

6. removemembers

• Purpose: Remove one or more members from a group.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group removemembers <GroupName> <User1> [<User2> ...]

• Example:

  samba-tool group removemembers Marketing alice

  This removes "alice" from the "Marketing" group.

7. rename

• Purpose: Rename an existing group.

• Usage:

  samba-tool group rename <OldGroupName> <NewGroupName>

• Example:

  samba-tool group rename Marketing NewMarketing

  This command renames the "Marketing" group to "NewMarketing".

Practical Considerations

• Administrative Privileges: Most operations require domain administrator credentials. Ensure you run these commands with appropriate privileges.

• Consistency and Auditing: Regularly review group memberships using samba-tool group list and samba-tool group show to ensure that group policies and access controls remain consistent with your organizational needs.

• Scripting and Automation: samba-tool group commands are scriptable, making it possible to automate common group management tasks in large deployments.

Conclusion

The samba-tool group command is an essential tool for managing group objects in a Samba Active Directory environment. With subcommands for adding, deleting, listing, modifying, and managing group memberships, it provides a comprehensive interface for administrators to maintain and secure group-based access control. By integrating these commands into your administrative routines, you can ensure that group policies are consistently applied and that your domain remains well-organized and secure.