chroot(ADM)                     19 June 1992                     chroot(ADM)


 Name

    chroot - change root directory for command

 Syntax

    chroot newroot command

 Description

    The given command is executed relative to the new root.  The meaning of
    any initial slashes (/) in pathnames is changed for a command and any of
    its children to newroot.  In addition, the initial working directory is
    newroot.

    Notice that:

       chroot newroot command > x

    creates the file x relative to the original root, not the new one.

    This command is restricted to the super user.

    The new root pathname 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.  Note that it is not possible to
    change directories to what was formerly the parent of the new root direc-
    tory; that is, the chroot command supports the new root as an absolute
    root for the duration of the command.  This means that ``/..'' is always
    equivalent to ``/''.

 See also

    chdir(S), cd(C)

 Notes

    Exercise extreme caution when referencing special files in the new root
    file system.

    command must be under newroot or ``command: not found'' is reported.

 Standards conformance

    chroot is conformant with:

    AT&T SVID Issue 2;
    and X/Open Portability Guide, Issue 3, 1989.