I need some assistance with commands to simplify some administration. I would like to install a predefined set of scripts and directories in a staging directory and then zip it up into one file. Then whenever I create a new site, I will just unzip the file into that site and make some minor configuration changes to the scripts. I will log in as the user who owns the site when I unzip the files, so if possible, I would like for it to assume ownership from that login. I would also like for all files to maintain their permissions.

Can anyone help me with the command or point me to a resource?

Thanks,
Johnathan

If you need to assume privileges of a user, a command like 'su' will do. But I'm not really sure if that's what you want.

tar cf dir.tar dir

that will keep all the file permissions plus the numbered userid and number id group id. So if you copy over say the /etc/passwd /etc/shadow and /etc/group before you untar the file to the new system it "should" keep all the same ownership and permissions.