Getting bash to login as root and recognize commands like "vi" and "locate"
 

The subject line pretty much says it all. I reinstalled my CentOS 5.2 OS today, updated yum and bash and started trying to locate and edit files. Each time I run "locate [name]" or "vi [file]", I get "command not found".

Also, no matter what I do, log off, reboot, whatever, I get only "-bash-3.2#" on which to execute commands rather than "[root@hostname~]" and I can't seem to set the hostname because bash won't recognize the commands or allow me to edit files! I did FIND that the server recognizes the hostname but, even after rebooting and logging back onto my SSH, I still only get "-bash-3.2#", I couldn't fix the problem.

Please help so I can move on with my life. Thanks.

April

Hi, and welcome to LQ!

There could be several underlying issues.

• Some apps simply didn't get installed ...
• for some reason bash isn't evaluating some of the normal startup-files
• permissions/ownerships on relevant files are screwy

What do you get when you do
?



Cheers,
Tink

Thank you for your willingness to help. I'd like to get this resolved.

The output from echo $PATH: /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin

Let me know what you think. I can "vi" anything so I can't read any files.

April

What does
show you?

And
?


Cheers,
Tink

Are you able to find the executables under /usr/bin ?