# groupdel

## NAME



           groupdel - delete a group
    


## SYNOPSIS



    
           **groupdel**[_options_] _GROUP_
    


## DESCRIPTION



           The **groupdel** command modifies the system account files, deleting
           all entries that refer to _GROUP_. The named group must exist.
    


## OPTIONS



           The options which apply to the **groupdel** command are:
    
           **-f** , **--force**
               This option forces the removal of the group, even if there's
               some user having the group as the primary one.
    
           **-h** , **--help**
               Display help message and exit.
    
           **-R** , **--root** _CHROOT_DIR_
               Apply changes in the _CHROOT_DIR_ directory and use the
               configuration files from the _CHROOT_DIR_ directory. Only
               absolute paths are supported.
    
           **-P** , **--prefix** _PREFIX_DIR_
               Apply changes in the _PREFIX_DIR_ directory and use the
               configuration files from the _PREFIX_DIR_ directory. This option
               does not chroot and is intended for preparing a
               cross-compilation target. Some limitations: NIS and LDAP
               users/groups are not verified. PAM authentication is using the
               host files. No SELINUX support.
    


## CAVEATS



           You may not remove the primary group of any existing user. You
           must remove the user before you remove the group.
    
           You should manually check all file systems to ensure that no files
           remain owned by this group.
    


## CONFIGURATION



           The following configuration variables in /etc/login.defs change
           the behavior of this tool:
    
           **MAX_MEMBERS_PER_GROUP**(number)
               Maximum members per group entry. When the maximum is reached,
               a new group entry (line) is started in /etc/group (with the
               same name, same password, and same GID).
    
               The default value is 0, meaning that there are no limits in
               the number of members in a group.
    
               This feature (split group) permits to limit the length of
               lines in the group file. This is useful to make sure that
               lines for NIS groups are not larger than 1024 characters.
    
               If you need to enforce such limit, you can use 25.
    
               Note: split groups may not be supported by all tools (even in
               the Shadow toolsuite). You should not use this variable unless
               you really need it.
    


## FILES



           /etc/group
               Group account information.
    
           /etc/gshadow
               Secure group account information.
    


## EXIT VALUES



           The **groupdel** command exits with the following values:
    
           _0_
               success
    
           _2_
               invalid command syntax
    
           _6_
               specified group doesn't exist
    
           _8_
               can't remove user's primary group
    
           _10_
               can't update group file
    


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