---
title: About the etc_group Resource
---

# etc_group

Use the `etc_group` InSpec audit resource to test groups that are defined on Linux and Unix platforms. The `/etc/group` file stores details about each group---group name, password, group identifier, along with a comma-separate list of users that belong to the group.

<br>

## Syntax

A `etc_group` resource block declares a collection of properties to be tested:

    describe etc_group('path') do
      its('property') { should eq 'some_value' }
    end

or:

    describe etc_group.where(item: 'value', item: 'value') do
      its('gids') { should_not contain_duplicates }
      its('groups') { should include 'user_name' }
      its('users') { should include 'user_name' }
    end

where

* `('path')` is the non-default path to the `inetd.conf` file
* `.where()` may specify a specific item and value, to which the matchers are compared
* `'gids'`, `'groups'`, and `'users'` are valid matchers for this resource


## Examples

The following examples show how to use this InSpec audit resource.

### Test group identifiers (GIDs) for duplicates

    describe etc_group do
      its('gids') { should_not contain_duplicates }
    end

### Test all groups to see if a specific user belongs to one (or more) groups

    describe etc_group do
      its('groups') { should include 'my_group' }
    end

### Test all groups for a specific user name

    describe etc_group do
      its('users') { should include 'my_user' }
    end

### Filter a list of groups for a specific user

    describe etc_group.where(name: 'my_group') do
      its('users') { should include 'my_user' }
    end

<br>

## Matchers

For a full list of available matchers please visit our [matchers page](https://www.inspec.io/docs/reference/matchers/). 

### gids

The `gids` matcher tests if the named group identifier is present or if it contains duplicates:

    its('gids') { should_not contain_duplicates }

### groups

The `groups` matcher tests all groups for the named user:

    its('groups') { should include 'my_group' }

### users

The `users` matcher tests all groups for the named user:

    its('users') { should include 'my_user' }

### where

The `where` matcher allows the test to be focused to one (or more) specific items:

    etc_group.where(item: 'value', item: 'value')

where `item` may be one (or more) of:

* `name: 'name'`
* `group_name: 'group_name'`
* `password: 'password'`
* `gid: 'gid'`
* `group_id: 'gid'`
* `users: 'user_name'`
* `members: 'member_name'`