NAME

chroot − change root directory for a command

SYNOPSIS

/usr/sbin/chroot newroot command

DESCRIPTION

chroot causes the given command to be executed relative to the new root.  The meaning of any initial slashes (/) in the path names is changed for the command and any of its child processes to newroot .  Furthermore, upon execution, the initial working directory is newroot . 

Notice, however, that if you redirect the output of the command to a file:

chroot newroot command >x

will create the file x relative to the original root of the command, not the new one. 

The new root path name is always relative to the current root: even if a chroot is currently in effect, the newroot argument is relative to the current root of the running process. 

This command can be run only by the super-user. 

SEE ALSO

cd(1), chroot(2). 

NOTES

One should exercise extreme caution when referencing device files in the new root file system.