To remove the ACLs and the accompanying plus sign from a file or directory in linux

 

In Linux, a plus sign (+) at the end of the file permissions (e.g., -rwxrwxrwx+) indicates that the file or directory has extended permissions set through Access Control Lists (ACLs).

To remove the ACLs and the accompanying plus sign from a file or directory, you can use the setfacl command:

1. Remove all ACL entries: This will eliminate all extended ACLs associated with the file or directory.

   bash
   setfacl -b filename
   

   Replace filename with the name of your file or directory.

2. Remove the ACL mask: Sometimes, even after removing all ACL entries, the plus sign may persist due to an existing ACL mask. To remove it, use:

   bash
   setfacl -n filename
   

   Combining both steps ensures that all ACL entries and masks are removed:

   bash
   setfacl -bn filename
   

   This command removes all ACL entries and the ACL mask simultaneously, effectively clearing any extended permissions.

Note: After performing these operations, it's advisable to verify the current permissions using ls -l filename to ensure that the ACLs have been successfully removed and that the plus sign no longer appears.

Caution: Modifying ACLs can impact access permissions for users and groups. Ensure that the standard Unix permissions (rwx for user, group, and others) are set appropriately to maintain the desired access controls after removing ACLs.

By following these steps, you can remove the plus sign from the file permissions, indicating that no extended ACLs are set on the file or directory.