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

ajaygoeslinux · 05-04-2009, 04:13 PM

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

Tinkster · 05-04-2009, 05:25 PM

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

Code:

echo $PATH

?

Cheers,
Tink

ajaygoeslinux · 05-04-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkster

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

Code:

echo $PATH

?

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

Tinkster · 05-04-2009, 10:41 PM

What does

Code:

rpm -qa | grep vi

show you?

And

Code:

rpm -ql bash

?

Cheers,
Tink

Libu · 05-04-2009, 10:51 PM

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

Quote:

ls /usr/bin/ | grep -e vim -e locate