IBM Support

How to Troubleshoot and Fix Underlying File System Permissions

How To


Summary

AIX file systems have two sets of permissions: The mount point permissions, and the mounted file system permissions. If you encounter access errors although the mounted permissions seem correct, check the underlying mount point permissions. Underlying mount point permissions are hidden by the file system root directory permissions.

Objective

The standard procedure is to unmount the file system to verify and resolve the underlying mount point permissions.  The examples in this document explain methods to check and fix the underlying mount point permissions while the file system is still mounted.

Environment

This example uses the following file systems:

  • /filesystemA
  • /filesystemA/filesystemB

SCENARIO:

Non-root members of group "system" are unable to write to /filesystemA/filesystemB, although the permissions show rwx (read, write, and execute) for the group.

# ls -ald /filesystemA/filesystemB

---> drwxrwxr-x    3 root     system          256 May 11 13:09 /filesystemA/filesystemB

# ls -ald /filesystemA

---> drwxrwxr-x    4 root     system          256 May 11 13:09 /filesystemA

Steps

To check the underlying mount point permissions, first check /filesystemA/filesystemB permissions by mounting filesystemA to another mount point in order to unhide filesystemB directory.

# mount -v namefs /filesystemA /mnt
# ls -ald /mnt/filesystemB
---> drwxrwxr-x    2 root     system          256 May 11 13:09 /mnt/filesystemB
The permissions are OK.
# unmount /mnt
 
 

Next, check the parent /filesystemA permissions by mounting "/" file system to another mount point in order to unhide filesystemA directory:

# mount -v namefs / /mnt
# ls -ald /mnt/filesystemA
---> drwx------    3 root     system          256 May 11 13:05 /mnt/filesystemA
Only root has write permissions.
If there are any permission problems you can fix them.  The following example adds read, write, and execute permissions for the group, and read and execute permissions for others, by using the temporary mount point "/mnt":
# chmod g+rwx o+rx /mnt/filesystemA
# ls -ald /mnt/filesystemA
---> drwxrwxr-x    3 root     system          256 May 11 13:05 /mnt/filesystemA
Now permissions are fixed.
# unmount /mnt
Now that permissions are fixed, test again the command that was failing previously.

Additional Information

The following script was shared by a member of the sunset "IBM Developerworks" community.
It will provide a list of all mounted directories and their underlying permissions.
#!/bin/ksh
#Show Mount Point Permissions
[ `whoami` = "root" ] || { echo "Run as root"; exit 1; }
tmpdir="/tmp/$$"
mkdir "$tmpdir"
for fs in `mount | grep jfs | awk '{print $2}'`; do
        printf "%-24s" "Mounted: "
        ls -ald $fs
        parentmount=`df "/$fs/.." | tail -n 1 | awk '{print $7}'`
        mount -o ro "$parentmount" "$tmpdir"
        printf "%-24s" $fs
        ls -ald `echo $fs | sed "s%$parentmount%$tmpdir/%"`
        umount "$tmpdir"
        printf "%s\n" "---------"
done
rmdir "$tmpdir"
SUPPORT

If you require more assistance, use the following step-by-step instructions to contact IBM to open a case for software with an active and valid support contract.  

1.  Document (or collect screen captures of) all symptoms, errors, and messages related to your issue.

2.  Capture any logs or data relevant to the situation.

3.  Contact IBM to open a case:

  - For electronic support, see the IBM Support Community:
     https://www.ibm.com/mysupport
  - If you require telephone support, see the web page:
      https://www.ibm.com/planetwide/

4.  Provide a clear, concise description of the issue.

5.  If the system is accessible, collect a system snap, and upload all of the details and data for your case.

 - For more information, see: Working with IBM AIX Support: Collecting snap data

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SWG10","label":"AIX"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m0z000000cvzlAAA","label":"Security->Authentication"}],"ARM Case Number":"","Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"All Version(s)","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB08","label":"Cognitive Systems"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
26 October 2021

UID

ibm10884178