Linux From Scratch - Version SYSTEMD-20130504

Chapter 6. Installing Basic System Software

6.27. Libcap-2.22

The Libcap package implements the user-space interfaces to the POSIX 1003.1e capabilities available in Linux kernels. These capabilities are a partitioning of the all powerful root privilege into a set of distinct privileges.

Approximate build time: 0.1 SBU
Required disk space: 1.3 MB

6.27.1. Installation of Libcap

Compile the package: 

make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Install the package: 

make RAISE_SETFCAP=no prefix=/usr install
chmod -v 0755 /usr/lib/libcap.so.2.22

The shared library needs to be moved to /lib, and as a result the .so file in /usr/lib will need to be recreated: 

mv -v /usr/lib/libcap.so.* /lib
ln -sfv ../../lib/libcap.so.2 /usr/lib/libcap.so

6.27.2. Contents of Libcap

Installed programs: capsh, getcap, getpcaps, and setcap
Installed library: libcap.{so,a}

Short Descriptions

capsh

A shell wrapper to explore and constrain capability support

getcap

Examines file capabilities

getpcaps

Displays the capabilities on the queried process(es)

libcap.{so,a}

Contains the libcap API functions