Linux lid (libuser-lid) Command Examples

I am a new Linux and Unix system user. How do I list the user’s groups or group’s users on Linux operating systems? How can I show list of users belonging to a given group on Linux based server?

You need to use the lid (list ID) command to show information about groups containing user name, or users contained in group name at a shell prompt. This command is just like groups command which [donotprint]

[/donotprint]list a user’s group memberships or members command which outputs members of a group on Linux operating system. This command may not be available on other Unix-like operating systems.

Purpose

Displays the group that a given user belongs to on Linux operating systems.

Syntax

The basic syntax is as follows:

lid userNameHere
libuser-lid userNameHere

OR

lid [options] userNameHere
libuser-lid [options] userNameHere

This command must be run with superuser privileges other wise you will get an error that read as follows:

No user name specified, using nixcraft.
Error initializing libuser: not executing with superuser privileges.

Warning: On Debian and Ubuntu Linux based system you need to use the apt-get command/apt command to install lid command
sudo apt-get install libuser
On a newer system the lid command renamed as libuser-lid

Linux lid (libuser-lid) Command Examples

If you skip user name on command line, lid lists information about the invoking user (also know as the current user). Just type the following command:
$ sudo lid
OR
# lid
Sample outputs:

By default lid displays groups containing the invoking user if user-name is not specified on command line.

How do I list users in a group name?

To Show users in a group, enter:
# lid -g {groupNameHere}
#libuser-lid -g {groupNameHere}
To see users of members of ‘webmaster’ group, enter:
# lid -g webmaster
# libuser-lid -g webmaster
Sample outputs:

 webadmin(uid=1014)
 raj(uid=1001)
 vivek(uid=1002)
 archana(uid=1003)
 sai(uid=1004)
 sayali(uid=1005)

How do I hide GID/UID?

By default the user IDs (UID) or group IDs (GID) are displayed by lid command. To hide UID/GID pass the -n option:
# lid -n {name}
# lid -n nixcraft
# lid -n -g webmaster
# libuser-lid -n {name}
# libuser-lid -n nixcraft
# libuser-lid -n -g webmaster
Sample outputs:

 webadmin
 raj
 vivek
 archana
 sai
 sayali

lid command options

From the lid(1) command man page:

Options	Description
-i --interactive	Prompt for all information.
-g --group	List members of a named group instead of the group memberships for the named user.
-n --onlynames	Only list membership information by name, and not UID/GID.
-?--help	Show this help message on screen.
--usage	Display brief usage message.

See also

• /etc/group file.
• lid(1) Linux/Unix command man page

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