tired of having to start firestarter from commandline?
tired of having to start programs from commandline just because they run as root?

if the answer is yes then read on

http://xsu.freax.eu.org/ is what you're looking to use. Have you switched to debian from redhat but miss the ease of just clicking on a program and having it ask for the 'root' password to run. Now you have to open a xterm window and become root just to run etherape or firestarter or (good forbid) nmapfe??

xsu is for you.

I'm going to use Debian as an example. This is a woody box. Debian 3/Woody. The window manager I use is OpenBox.

1. open an xterm window

2. su (become root. hopefully you're not running black/open/fluxbox as root!!)

3. cd /usr/lib/menu (remember this is debian as an example)

ok. now we are going to edit the etherape file. once this is done it will enable us to right click on the desktop - go to etherape in the menu and click - enter the root password and then run etherape. that's it.

we're still root.
we're in the /usr/lib/menu directory

4. vi etherape

on the line that has the *command="blalblahbetherape* list delete that lines worth text. in it's place put this:


command="xsu --title \"running etherape\" -c etherape -u root -d -e -m \"In order to run \"etherape\" as root.^Additional information is required.^Enter root password.\" "\

it will look somewhat like this screenshot:
http://www.deadmule.com/images/tmp/etherape.menu.png




5. hit the "Esc" key in the upper right corner of keyboard and the type this:

:wq

now hit the "enter" key.

6. we have just made an edit the etherape file. we need to update the menus system now. (remember we are still root) now type this:

update-menus

and hit the enter key

you're done.

now you can right click on the desktop go over to where etherape is located in the menu system:
http://www.deadmule.com/images/tmp/rightclick.png

enter the root's password:
http://www.deadmule.com/images/tmp/enterpassword.png

now you've got etherape running:
http://www.deadmule.com/images/tmp/etherape.png


cool. huh?


hey macewan, i'm running debian and would like to install xsu. how's it done?

glad you asked. with debian it's real easy. first open a term window. become root. then type this:

apt-get install xsu

hit the enter key and watch it install.