How can I install a program and have it accessible as a command from any directory?

bcarl6 · 12-23-2010, 10:01 PM

I want to install a program (specifically metasploit), and have it accessible from any directory in the terminal. I have it installed correctly, but I have to travel to the directory it is installed in to run it (by using ./msfconsole ). I want to be able to be in any directory and just run "msfconsole" and have metasploit run. How do I do this? I'm pretty sure that I have to copy the metasploit folder to the /opt/ directory? Maybe the /usr/bin/ directory? I am not sure, and any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

MS3FGX · 12-23-2010, 10:21 PM

Either symlink the Metasploit binaries to /usr/bin so they are in your path, or add the Metasploit directory to your PATH variable.

chickenjoy · 12-23-2010, 10:30 PM

Edit .bash_profile of the user:

Code:

# User specific environment and startup programs

#PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin				<--- comment out the existing
PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin:/path/to/metasploit	<--- path to the directory where the program is

export PATH

Now logout and log back in.

Edit: I guess MS3FGX's suggestion is better if you want all existing users and future users to have instant access to the program without having to modify their bash_profile individually.

zer0signal · 12-23-2010, 10:34 PM

step by step:

at the prompt type

updatedb

wait till it finishes

then

locate msfconsole

once it shows you the path to "msfconsole"

type:

cd /usr/bin

ln -sf /path/to/msfconsole msfconsole

ln [OPTION]... [-T] TARGET LINK_NAME (1st form)
ln [OPTION]... TARGET (2nd form)
ln [OPTION]... TARGET... DIRECTORY (3rd form)
ln [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY TARGET... (4th form)

that will place a symlink in /usr/bin/msfconsole pointing to >>>> /path/to/msfconsole

you can verify this happend by typing

ls -l in the /usr/bin directory