Problem running ifconfig as non root

wrybread · 12-05-2005, 10:45 AM

I'm trying to run ifconfig as a non root user, with the following command:

su - root ifconfig

It prompts me for root password, I enter it correctly, then get the following error:

"/sbin/ifconfig: /sbin/ifconfig: cannot execute binary file"

Anyone have a clue?

I know I can just login as root, but I'd really like to be able to execute root commands as non root every now and again.

reddazz · 12-05-2005, 11:10 AM

Code:

su -c "ifconfig"

wrybread · 12-05-2005, 11:16 PM

Nope, that produces same problem.

[wrybread@localhost ~]$ su -c "ifconfig"
Password:
bash: ifconfig: command not found

reddazz · 12-05-2005, 11:45 PM

My bad,

Code:

su -c "/sbin/ifconfig"

jrdioko · 12-06-2005, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrybread

I'm trying to run ifconfig as a non root user, with the following command:

su - root ifconfig

You have the right idea, but you shouldn't be putting it all on one line:

Code:

su -
<your password when prompted>
ifconfig

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrybread

I know I can just login as root, but I'd really like to be able to execute root commands as non root every now and again.

And that's exactly how you should be doing it. It's a very bad idea to login as root, as you can easily mess up your system if you mistype something, and it can become a security issue as well.

chrism01 · 12-06-2005, 12:27 AM

If you are going to be using this cmd a lot, look into using the sudo facility.

Ynot Irucrem · 12-06-2005, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddazz

Code:

su -c "ifconfig"

this doesn't work because ifconfig isn't in the user's $PATH. You need to either specify the complete path to the binary with

Code:

su -c "/sbin/ifconfig"

or get the root's environment, with

Code:

su -c "ifconfig" -

EDIT: or add /sbin to your path, but you wouldn't want to do that.

reddazz · 12-06-2005, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ynot Irucrem

this doesn't work because ifconfig isn't in the user's $PATH. You need to either specify the complete path to the binary with

Code:

su -c "/sbin/ifconfig"

or get the root's environment, with

Code:

su -c "ifconfig" -

EDIT: or add /sbin to your path, but you wouldn't want to do that.

Err, did you not see the correction I made above. Cheers.

Ynot Irucrem · 12-06-2005, 07:12 AM

Sorry, I guess since your posts were close together, and almost identical, I must have glazed over the second one.

reddazz · 12-06-2005, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ynot Irucrem

Sorry, I guess since your posts were close together, and almost identical, I must have glazed over the second one.

Its alright. I was just messing around. I am guilty of doing the same thing on other peoples threads.