System Administrator for Linux
 

I am very new at Linux (just installed Mandriva 2009 Spring a few days ago). I'm liking it very much so far.
I downloaded a program called DeVeDe, and from going online and reading a few tutorials, I found out how to extract and install the program. I have to use a command called "SUDO" (which I'm sure you're familiar with).
The problem is, when I type "sudo ./install.sh" on the terminal, and I enter my password, it says I'm not on the sudoer list, and it won't let me install the program.
Again, by going online, I was able to find where the the "sudoer" file is on my computer, but I cannot get access to this file.
I am the only user on this system. How do I set myself up to have the privileges to access files such as "sudoer", and to have full System Administrator rights? Did I miss something in the initial install?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
Travis

You need to use the program:

visudo

To edit the:

sudoers

file. Look for a line like this:

root ALL=(ALL) ALL

and make a line underneath:

<username> ALL=(ALL) ALL

@comteck123
sudo is used to elevate your privileges temporarily. I'm not familiar with Mandriva, but if you are not in the sudoers list, Mandriva might have a normal root user. If so, use su - (su dash) and login. Navigate to the folder and run the install script without sudo in front of it.

@AwesomeMachine
Don't you need to have root privileges to edit the sudoers file ?

If you are not on sudoers list then you need to login as root and edit the sudoers file to include the lines AwesomeMachine said.

But then you don't need sudo anymore ;)

Login as root from terminal and edit your /etc/sudoers file and you should find a section called

# User privilege specification
root ALL=(ALL) ALL

Just add your username to it

# User privilege specification
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
kdelover ALL=(ALL) ALL


That should work.

First of all, thank you all for your reply.
There are, however, still some issues. First, with Visudo.... I don't have this program on my list of programs to install. If I download it from the internet, and try to install it, wouldn't I run into the same problem I'm having now?
Secondly, how do I login as root? I tried, from the welcome screen, just typing in the word "root" in the username, and the root password. But it comes up with the message "Root logins are not allowed", and it won't let me login under that name. Am I doing this right?
Wim, I did what you said (su - username). It went through as if it was installing, but after every file, it said "Permission Denied".
I'm starting to wonder if the problem is with Mandriva itself.

Thanks again.
Travis

I finally figured out how to open the sudoers file. Under "Configure Your Computer", I clicked on "Manage Users on System", and double clicked on the username. Then, under "Groups" I selected "root".
However, I used visudo to edit the file, but the file doesn't save when I exit. Do you know how to do this?

Thanks again.

When you're finished editing, hit the ESC key on your keyboard, type :wq and hit enter. When you type the :wq, you should see it at the bottom left of your screen.

That worked great. I was able to edit (and save) the sudoer file. Thanks again for your help. Where can I get a good tutorial for Mandriva? Or even just Linux?

Travis

Don't install application that way. Only do it if you have no other way of doing it. Using the source code to install an application is intended for developer, not end users.

Take a look at urpmi and software repository for mandriva. You will discover that something called RPM exist and are on click installer for software.

Thanks again for the replies. I checked out URPMI, but it made no sense to me. Is this something I download, or install?
As well, how then do I use it to install a program such as devede?