---
name: "zfs-allow"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "zfsutils-linux"
version: "2.3.9-0+deb13u1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/zfs-allow"
---

# zfs-allow(8)

delegate ZFS administration permissions to unprivileged users

## NAME

**zfs-allow** – delegate ZFS administration permissions to unprivileged users

## SYNOPSIS

**zfs** **allow** \[**-dglu**\] *user*\|*group*\[,*user*\|*group*\]…*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **allow** \[**-dl**\] **-e**\|**everyone***perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **allow** **-c***perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **allow** **-s** @*setname**perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **unallow** \[**-dglru**\] *user*\|*group*\[,*user*\|*group*\]…\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **unallow** \[**-dlr**\] **-e**\|**everyone**\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **unallow** \[**-r**\] **-c**\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume*

**zfs** **unallow** \[**-r**\] **-s** @*setname*\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume*

## DESCRIPTION

-

  **zfs** **allow** *filesystem*\|*volume* Displays permissions that have been delegated on the specified filesystem or volume. See the other forms of **zfs** **allow** for more information.

  Delegations are supported under Linux with the exception of **mount**, **unmount**, **mountpoint**, **canmount**, **rename**, and **share**. These permissions cannot be delegated because the Linux [mount(8)](/mount/8.md) command restricts modifications of the global namespace to the root user.

-

  **zfs** **allow** \[**-dglu**\] *user*\|*group*\[,*user*\|*group*\]…*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume*

-

  **zfs** **allow** \[**-dl**\] **-e**\|**everyone***perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume* Delegates ZFS administration permission for the file systems to non-privileged users.

  - **-d**

    Allow only for the descendent file systems.

  - **-e**\|**everyone**

    Specifies that the permissions be delegated to everyone.

  - **-g** *group*\[,*group*\]…

    Explicitly specify that permissions are delegated to the group.

  - **-l**

    Allow "locally" only for the specified file system.

  - **-u** *user*\[,*user*\]…

    Explicitly specify that permissions are delegated to the user.

  - *user*\|*group*\[,*user*\|*group*\]…

    Specifies to whom the permissions are delegated. Multiple entities can be specified as a comma-separated list. If neither of the **-gu** options are specified, then the argument is interpreted preferentially as the keyword **everyone**, then as a user name, and lastly as a group name. To specify a user or group named "everyone", use the **-g** or **-u** options. To specify a group with the same name as a user, use the **-g** options.

  -

    *perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… The permissions to delegate. Multiple permissions may be specified as a comma-separated list. Permission names are the same as ZFS subcommand and property names. See the property list below. Property set names, which begin with **@**, may be specified. See the **-s** form below for details.

    If neither of the **-dl** options are specified, or both are, then the permissions are allowed for the file system or volume, and all of its descendants.

    Permissions are generally the ability to use a ZFS subcommand or change a ZFS property. The following permissions are available:

    | | | |
    | --- | --- | --- |
    | NAME | TYPE | NOTES |
    |  |  |  |
    | allow | subcommand | Must also have the permission that is being allowed |
    | bookmark | subcommand |
    | clone | subcommand | Must also have the **create** ability and **mount** ability in the origin file system |
    | create | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** ability. Must also have the **refreservation** ability to create a non-sparse volume. |
    | destroy | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** ability |
    | diff | subcommand | Allows lookup of paths within a dataset given an object number, and the ability to create snapshots necessary to **zfs diff**. |
    | hold | subcommand | Allows adding a user hold to a snapshot |
    | load-key | subcommand | Allows loading and unloading of encryption key (see **zfs load-key** and **zfs unload-key**). |
    | change-key | subcommand | Allows changing an encryption key via **zfs change-key**. |
    | mount | subcommand | Allows mounting/unmounting ZFS datasets |
    | promote | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** and **promote** ability in the origin file system |
    | receive | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** and **create** ability, required for **zfs receive -F** (see also **receive:append** for limited, non forced receive) |
    | release | subcommand | Allows releasing a user hold which might destroy the snapshot |
    | rename | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** and **create** ability in the new parent |
    | rollback | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** ability |
    | send | subcommand |
    | share | subcommand | Allows sharing file systems over NFS or SMB protocols |
    | snapshot | subcommand | Must also have the **mount** ability |
    |  |
    | receive:append | other | Must also have the **mount** and **create** ability, limited receive ability (can not do receive -F) |
    | groupquota | other | Allows accessing any **groupquota@***…* property |
    | groupobjquota | other | Allows accessing any **groupobjquota@***…* property |
    | groupused | other | Allows reading any **groupused@***…* property |
    | groupobjused | other | Allows reading any **groupobjused@***…* property |
    | userprop | other | Allows changing any user property |
    | userquota | other | Allows accessing any **userquota@***…* property |
    | userobjquota | other | Allows accessing any **userobjquota@***…* property |
    | userused | other | Allows reading any **userused@***…* property |
    | userobjused | other | Allows reading any **userobjused@***…* property |
    | projectobjquota | other | Allows accessing any **projectobjquota@***…* property |
    | projectquota | other | Allows accessing any **projectquota@***…* property |
    | projectobjused | other | Allows reading any **projectobjused@***…* property |
    | projectused | other | Allows reading any **projectused@***…* property |
    |  |
    | aclinherit | property |
    | aclmode | property |
    | acltype | property |
    | atime | property |
    | canmount | property |
    | casesensitivity | property |
    | checksum | property |
    | compression | property |
    | context | property |
    | copies | property |
    | dedup | property |
    | defcontext | property |
    | devices | property |
    | dnodesize | property |
    | encryption | property |
    | exec | property |
    | filesystem\_limit | property |
    | fscontext | property |
    | keyformat | property |
    | keylocation | property |
    | logbias | property |
    | mlslabel | property |
    | mountpoint | property |
    | nbmand | property |
    | normalization | property |
    | overlay | property |
    | pbkdf2iters | property |
    | primarycache | property |
    | quota | property |
    | readonly | property |
    | recordsize | property |
    | redundant\_metadata | property |
    | refquota | property |
    | refreservation | property |
    | relatime | property |
    | reservation | property |
    | rootcontext | property |
    | secondarycache | property |
    | setuid | property |
    | sharenfs | property |
    | sharesmb | property |
    | snapdev | property |
    | snapdir | property |
    | snapshot\_limit | property |
    | special\_small\_blocks | property |
    | sync | property |
    | utf8only | property |
    | version | property |
    | volblocksize | property |
    | volmode | property |
    | volsize | property |
    | vscan | property |
    | xattr | property |
    | zoned | property |

-

  **zfs** **allow** **-c***perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume* Sets "create time" permissions. These permissions are granted (locally) to the creator of any newly-created descendent file system.

-

  **zfs** **allow** **-s** @*setname**perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]… *filesystem*\|*volume* Defines or adds permissions to a permission set. The set can be used by other **zfs** **allow** commands for the specified file system and its descendants. Sets are evaluated dynamically, so changes to a set are immediately reflected. Permission sets follow the same naming restrictions as ZFS file systems, but the name must begin with **@**, and can be no more than 64 characters long.

-

  **zfs** **unallow** \[**-dglru**\] *user*\|*group*\[,*user*\|*group*\]…\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume*

-

  **zfs** **unallow** \[**-dlr**\] **-e**\|**everyone**\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume*

-

  **zfs** **unallow** \[**-r**\] **-c**\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume* Removes permissions that were granted with the **zfs** **allow** command. No permissions are explicitly denied, so other permissions granted are still in effect. For example, if the permission is granted by an ancestor. If no permissions are specified, then all permissions for the specified *user*, *group*, or **everyone** are removed. Specifying **everyone** (or using the **-e** option) only removes the permissions that were granted to everyone, not all permissions for every user and group. See the **zfs** **allow** command for a description of the **-ldugec** options.

  - **-r**

    Recursively remove the permissions from this file system and all descendants.

-

  **zfs** **unallow** \[**-r**\] **-s** @*setname*\[*perm*\|@*setname*\[,*perm*\|@ *setname*\]…\] *filesystem*\|*volume* Removes permissions from a permission set. If no permissions are specified, then all permissions are removed, thus removing the set entirely.

## EXAMPLES

### Example 1 : No Delegating ZFS Administration Permissions on a ZFS Dataset

The following example shows how to set permissions so that user *cindys* can create, destroy, mount, and take snapshots on *tank/cindys*. The permissions on *tank/cindys* are also displayed.

```
# zfs allow cindys create,destroy,mount,snapshot tank/cindys
# zfs allow tank/cindys
---- Permissions on tank/cindys --------------------------------------
Local+Descendent permissions:
        user cindys create,destroy,mount,snapshot
```

Because the *tank/cindys* mount point permission is set to 755 by default, user *cindys* will be unable to mount file systems under *tank/cindys*. Add an ACE similar to the following syntax to provide mount point access:

```
# chmod A+user:cindys:add_subdirectory:allow /tank/cindys
```

### Example 2 : No Delegating Create Time Permissions on a ZFS Dataset

The following example shows how to grant anyone in the group *staff* to create file systems in *tank/users*. This syntax also allows staff members to destroy their own file systems, but not destroy anyone else's file system. The permissions on *tank/users* are also displayed.

```
# zfs allow staff create,mount tank/users
# zfs allow -c destroy tank/users
# zfs allow tank/users
---- Permissions on tank/users ---------------------------------------
Permission sets:
        destroy
Local+Descendent permissions:
        group staff create,mount
```

### Example 3 : No Defining and Granting a Permission Set on a ZFS Dataset

The following example shows how to define and grant a permission set on the *tank/users* file system. The permissions on *tank/users* are also displayed.

```
# zfs allow -s @pset create,destroy,snapshot,mount tank/users
# zfs allow staff @pset tank/users
# zfs allow tank/users
---- Permissions on tank/users ---------------------------------------
Permission sets:
        @pset create,destroy,mount,snapshot
Local+Descendent permissions:
        group staff @pset
```

### Example 4 : No Delegating Property Permissions on a ZFS Dataset

The following example shows to grant the ability to set quotas and reservations on the *users/home* file system. The permissions on *users/home* are also displayed.

```
# zfs allow cindys quota,reservation users/home
# zfs allow users/home
---- Permissions on users/home ---------------------------------------
Local+Descendent permissions:
        user cindys quota,reservation
cindys% zfs set quota=10G users/home/marks
cindys% zfs get quota users/home/marks
NAME              PROPERTY  VALUE  SOURCE
users/home/marks  quota     10G    local
```

### Example 5 : No Removing ZFS Delegated Permissions on a ZFS Dataset

The following example shows how to remove the snapshot permission from the *staff* group on the **tank/users** file system. The permissions on **tank/users** are also displayed.

```
# zfs unallow staff snapshot tank/users
# zfs allow tank/users
---- Permissions on tank/users ---------------------------------------
Permission sets:
        @pset create,destroy,mount,snapshot
Local+Descendent permissions:
        group staff @pset
```