Steps for creating z/OS UNIX groups

Before you begin: You need to know which RACF® group profiles will be used as z/OS UNIX groups.

Perform the following steps to define RACF groups that can be used as z/OS UNIX groups.

  1. Log on to the user ID with RACF SPECIAL authority.

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  2. Issue one of the following commands. Base your choice on your particular situation.
    This table shows the tasks for creating z/OS® UNIX groups.
    If you want to . . . Then issue. . .
    Define a new RACF group profile and have it be used as a z/OS UNIX group

    The ADDGROUP command.

    Example: To define a RACF group profile named SYS1 and to give it a GID of 575, issue:
    ADDGROUP OMVSGRP SUPGROUP(SYS1)
      OWNER(SYS1) OMVS(GID(575))

    Result: You have defined a RACF group profile and created a z/OS UNIX group.

    Change a current RACF group profile and have it used as a z/OS UNIX group

    The ALTGROUP command.

    Example: To add a GID of 678 to the current RACF group ENGNGP7, issue:
    ALTGROUP ENGNGP7 OMVS(GID(678))
    Result: You have created a z/OS UNIX group.
    Use AUTOGID to automatically assign an unused GID. For example:
    ALTGROUP ENGNGP7 OMVS(AUTOGID) 
    To assign OMVS GIDs to all groups, use the ISPF shell.

    Tip: For useful reports and auditing, assign a unique GID to each RACF group name. Reports for the RACF group name will then supply information about the corresponding GID.

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When you are done, you have created a z/OS UNIX group. When the user connects to the system (for example, logs on to a TSO/E session), one group is selected as the user's current group. When a user becomes a z/OS UNIX user, the GID of the user's current group becomes the effective GID of the user's process. The user can access resources available to members of the user's effective GID.