[FC4] how to make commands more accessible?

polemon · 08-20-2005, 01:46 PM

Hi!

In order to use ifconfig, i either have to go to the /sbin directory and go ./ifconfig, or i have to type /sbin/ifconfig.

How can i make it more easy to use by making it available by typing just ifconfig from anywhere?

Nylex · 08-20-2005, 01:50 PM

Add the folder to your $PATH environment variable (search for how to do this, cos right now I can't remember the syntax).

polemon · 08-20-2005, 02:09 PM

K, thanks, maby there are othe possibilities?
(adding /sbin seems a bit dangerous for me...)

foo_bar_foo · 08-20-2005, 11:19 PM

most people set /sbin and /usr/sbin in PATH for root
this could be in /etc/profile or /root/.bash_profile

Code:

if [ $EUID -eq 0 ] ; then
        PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:$PATH
fi

if someone is cleaver enough to become root user then they already know stuff is in /sbin /usr/sbin
i don't think hiding those directories will help alot

but you can always just write aliases to the command with the fullpath you know in /root/.bashrc

Code:

if [ `whoami` = "root" ]; then
alias ifconfig='/sbin/ifconfig'
fi

btmiller · 08-20-2005, 11:52 PM

There's absolutely nothing unsafe about adding directories to your user's $PATH. You can't do anything damaging to the system with the commands therein unless you are root. I find it most convenient to add /sbin to my nonprivilidged user's $PATH.

polemon · 08-21-2005, 08:27 AM

Thanks for this very comprehensive Help, guys!

grovesj2 · 08-21-2005, 10:13 AM

The best way to do it is to change your /etc/profile file, you only have to comment out two lines:

# Path manipulation
#if [ $EUID = 0 ]; then
pathmunge /sbin
pathmunge /usr/sbin
pathmunge /usr/local/sbin
#fi

Just comment out the lines that begin with "if" and "fi", it should then look like the above. This will make it so that every user will be able to run the commands they have permissions for without typing the absolute path.