For a compactification $c\mathbb N$ of $\mathbb N$ let $\mathcal H(c\mathbb N,\mathbb N)$ be the group of homeomorphisms $h:c\mathbb N\to c\mathbb N$ such that $h(x)=x$ for all $x\in c\mathbb N\setminus\mathbb N$. The group $\mathcal H(c\mathbb N,\mathbb N)$ determines the subgroup $$S\_{\mathbb N,c\mathbb N}:=\{h{\restriction}\mathbb N:h\in\mathcal H(c\mathbb N,\mathbb N)\}$$ in the permutation group $S\_{\mathbb N}$ of $\mathbb N$. 


Observe that for the one-point compactification $\alpha\mathbb N$ of $\mathbb N$ the group $S\_{\mathbb N,\alpha\mathbb N}$ coincides with the whole group $S\_{\mathbb N}$ whereas for the Stone-Cech compactification $\beta\mathbb N$ of $\mathbb N$ the group $S\_{\mathbb N,\beta\mathbb N}$ coincides with the group $S\_{<\mathbb N}$ of finitely supported permutations of $\mathbb N$ (i.e., permutations that move only finitely many points of $\mathbb N$).


For any compactification $c\mathbb N$ of $\mathbb N$ we have $$S\_{<\mathbb N}=S\_{\mathbb N,\beta\mathbb N}\subset S\_{\mathbb N,c\mathbb N}\subset S\_{\mathbb N,\alpha\mathbb N}=S\_{\mathbb N}$$so $S\_{\mathbb N,c\mathbb N}$ is intermediate between $S\_{\mathbb N,\beta\mathbb N}$ and $S\_{\mathbb N,\alpha\mathbb N}$.


It is easy to prove that the one-point compactification of $\mathbb N$ is the unique compactification $c\mathbb N$ of $\mathbb N$ with $S\_{\mathbb N,c\mathbb N}=S\_{\mathbb N}$.



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> **Question.** Is the Stone-Cech compactification a unique compactification of $\mathbb N$ with $S\_{\mathbb N,c\mathbb N}=S\_{<\mathbb N}$?
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**Remark.** Negative answer to this question will imply negative answer to [this MO-problem.](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/309458/is-each-compactification-of-mathbb-n-soft)



Is $\beta\mathbb N$ a unique compactification with the smallest possible permutation group?
Analyzing [the answer](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/309458/is-each-compactification-of-mathbb-n-soft/309473#309473) of @James Hanson to [my preceding question](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/309458/is-each-compactification-of-mathbb-n-soft), I realized that this question also has a simple negative answer: the quotient space $c\mathbb N:=\beta\mathbb N/\{p,q\}$ of $\beta\mathbb N$ by any doubleton $\{p,q\}\subset\beta\mathbb N\setminus\mathbb N$ is not homeomorphic to $\beta\mathbb N$ but has the smallest possible permutation group $S\_{\mathbb N,c\mathbb N}=S\_{<\mathbb N}$. This compactification $c\mathbb N$ also is not soft (according to [this definition](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/309458/is-each-compactification-of-mathbb-n-soft)).


