$ mkdir d $ cd d $ whoami > root $ touch a Neet to have write_acl permission to chmod or set the acl: $ su bin $ chmod 666 a > chmod: changing permissions of `a': Operation not permitted $ nfs4acl --set 'bin:rwM::allow' a > a: Operation not permitted $ su $ nfs4acl --set 'bin:rwm::allow' a Can set the acl now: $ su bin $ nfs4acl --set 'bin:rwm::allow' a A chmod limits the permissions to the specified mode, which always disables write_acl: $ chmod 666 a $ nfs4acl --set 'bin:rwm::allow' a > a: Operation not permitted $ su $ cd .. $ rm -rf d